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Thursday, February 9, 2017 Volume 8 Issue 5
Meet your by-election candidates 10
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Rural education:
locals weigh in on Province’s new strategy by EVAN MATTHEWS The Province is engaging the public to redefine its rural education strategy, and Robson Valley residents say rural education is understaffed and underfunded. The Ministry of Education and School District 57, hosted an open house on Feb. 1 seeking public input on a new rural education strategy. While the open house was in Prince George, the rural communities of Valemount, McBride and Mackenzie were included at the open house via video conferencing. The Ministry is seeking public engagement until Mar. 15 via an online document to explore rural school funding and educational practices. The document, called the Draft Discussion Paper, has garnered over 200 responses, so far. Conversation opened with the Ministry asking residents to define their idea of rural schools, which provoked many in attendance to get right to the point. “McBride is defined as remote, not rural. But does the definition matter if there is no funding?” Asked Wes Keim, a teacher in McBride with two children of his own. A computer tech from Valemount Secondary School and parent of two, Kiba Dempsey, agreed, saying the definition of rural is an obvious one, as rural kids have little to no option when it comes to choosing a
school. Tim Nusse, who raised five children in Valemount and has coached the Secondary School’s girls’ basketball program for 23 years, also agreed. “If this is about definitions it’s a waste of time,” said Nusse. “We’ve done this before. It’s about funding.” While funding was atop the night’s discussion, School District 57 Chairperson, Tim Bennett, took the time to credit the valley’s educators for working under the current funding model. “Our staff is doing a fantastic job in rural schools and I don’t want that point to be lost,” said Bennett. “We know a teacher in a rural secondary school can have to prepare for up to nine curriculums (or more),” he said. But educators weighed in, too, saying underfunding prevents most teachers from living up to their potential, meaning students suffer, confirming residents’ concerns that the funding model needs to change. “Counseling doesn’t exist in our schools, and our kids deserve better,” said Principal of McBride Secondary, Derrick Shaw. A recurring positive during the conversation, however, was the notion that rural education provides a deeper connection between students and teachers. The teachers get to learn who the students are as people and about their family situations, according
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Dion Lachance brought some music to the street during a milder day last week in Valemount. Lachance says he busks for pocket money - things like food and cigarettes. Lachance may be familiar to you from his drumming role in the band Bismuth, comprised of other local musicians, which often plays at the Robson Valley Music Festival. He hopes people feel good when they hear him play. / LAURA KEIL