Letters to the Editor 8-18-2016

Changing with the times?
Editor: Changing with the times?
Thank you Heather Bailey for last weeks great positive article. I was excited to read about the creation of the improved learning environment for our students and educators in last week’s issue. Replacing the old portable huts with new state of the art facilities together with improving the parking lots will add a lot to improving the climate that increases both learning and safety in our schools. I was most impressed with the preparation of educators to facilitate the new ideas of social emotional well being of our students. The addition of psychologists and counsellors to facilitate restorative justice practices will go a long way to put an end to the school to prison pipeline. Such programs not only  increase the safety of students and teachers, they have proved to change the violent culture that pervades our society, not just in the schools, but our day to day relationships within families the workplace and our communities. Such professional development has been a long time coming and I hope that our political leaders will take note of these life saving, cost saving programs and will always find ways and means to fund such education.
Margaret Koren
Windsor