I had dinner with my father on Saturday, and we ended up talking about the Valley we love so much. One thing that struck me is his memories of school in the Valley. There were no school closures; when you walked into the school there were shelves of pencils and pens, paper, and other stationary; lunches for less fortunate families were made by volunteers; class sizes were appropriate, and teachers had, “all the time in the world” to help struggling young children.
The value of education cannot be overstated. Our children will be the ones taking care of us when we are elderly, our precious Comox Valley, and the future of our society.
The public education system isn’t perfect. From staffing levels to availability of facilities, to curriculum and class sizes, the issues are complex and plentiful. But I also know we have thousands of dedicated teachers who are crying for change. They are innovative, bright young people who can see a way forward, who want to do the right thing for our children, and their future.
I want to help our teachers and other educators make that happen. I want to help build a robust and lasting educational system that can flex and grow with time.
