Students are ones who’ll be hurt

To the editor,

I have carefully read every word of the lengthy and very complex Glaze education-reform report. It references so many situations, issues, challenges and educational models, etc., that it becomes mind-boggling. However, the McNeil government has decided to implement it in its entirety.

I am a retired school teacher who spent 37 years in the classroom. I have no confidence that this government will do anything to improve the situation for today’s students, particularly those with learning disabilities who are in immediate need of more resources.

Make no mistake, the Liberals are striving to centralize and consolidate control over the education system as they have done in the health-care sector and we should expect no better results. Local input and decision-making will become a distant memory.

The NSTU, teachers, administrators, school board members, and particularly parents of students, should challenge Liberal MLAs to publicly show how each of the recommendations will improve classroom conditions. Educators and related stakeholders should fill gymnasiums across the province and demand local MLAs attend meetings and provide their rationale.

If not challenged, I expect the McNeil government will soon have all public school teachers and administrators as disillusioned and despondent as our local doctors. We best not let this happen, or our students will be hurt by sheer political manipulation, as were medical patients across Nova Scotia. Now is the time to find out if your local MLA is representing your local community.

Ray Kavanaugh

New Waterford