Education not for yourself, but also for others

My family arrived to Winfield in 1959. It was a rural community of a few thousand people. Al’s Cafe and three general stores, plus a couple of gas jockey garages, were pretty much all there was along Highway 97.

Not much for a teenager to do but work and hang out at the cafe.

But something else exciting was happening. A brand new secondary school was being built across from the old community hall. When it opened in October 1959, there were about 20 students in each class, from Grades 7 to 12.

That year, the school chose as its motto NON NOBIS SOLUM — not for yourself alone, but also for others.

Teachers were readily available for help and students watched out for each other.

If you were interested in sports teams, you pretty much always had a chance to play.

It was a well-liked school by parents and students.

Flash ahead almost 60 years later as the local Central Okanagan school board struggles to implement controversial grade restructuring.

For some unknown reasons, it was decided the Rutland area should have a go at this first. It did not seem to matter that there was still lots of room in the elementary schools for even Grade 7s. It was just full steam ahead for a sudden change to Grades 6-8 middle schools.

It did not seem to matter that there were woefully inadequate structural facilities, and no bathrooms or water for a whole school of portables. There are 12 portables of over 300 students. Yes, Rutland Middle School now has more students in tinny old portables then there ever were in all my high school grades at George Elliott. No portables ever in those days. How did we get so far behind in building adequate schools? Are you listening BC Liberals? The controversy continues today with the Westside parents all stirred up about the exact same topic — grade configuration. Angry parents flooded the board office recently to complain that they had not been informed adequately or had not had much chance to express opinions or ask questions.

The board responded by holding a meeting at their board office — in Rutland. This just resulted in more frustration.

Only two trustees voiced much of a concern. One of those was Deb Butler from Lake Country, who, along with that city council, has said no to configuration until a new, adequate facility is built.

They refuse the tin can portables. The other trustee voting against, interestingly enough, was board chairwoman Moyra Baxter. She also proposed a motion for more consultation and explanation to parents. That should have been obvious. The vote to proceed was 5-2.

In case you were wondering, the motto of Rutland Middle School is, in this school everyone is a someone. I would question whether that can really be if half the student population are not even in the building.

Don’t get me wrong, the teachers do an incredible job of trying to make things work in limited facilities. Some teachers may spend most of their career in cheap portables. Would you send your children to any other professional in such limited a structure?

Rutland Middle School is just plain old, old, old, despite the nostalgia.

Do you hear this, again, MLA Norm Letnick? In the middle of looking desperate to sort this all out, the local school board announced that its next priority is to build a brand new school in West Kelowna.

Whatever happened to constantly saying that a new Rutland Middle School was, "the No. 1 priority”?

Despite a proposal to do all kinds of odd things to the old Rutland/Hollywood Road school — still nothing for Rutland. If Rutland students can be used as experimental scapegoats in old facilities, why not reopen the old George Pringle Secondary School and dump all the Westside students in there, say with a dozen or so tinny portables?

It has been a bad decision form the start to impose a grade reconfiguration across the district and get locked into just one system suits all. It obviously doesn’t and depends on facilities in each area.

Rutland would work far better, for example, by having just grade 7-8s in middle school — leave the Grade 6s at the elementary level where there leadership is needed.

But don’t expect that to happen. Most school board trustees will not even answer individual concerns directly. They seem to leave it all up to the board chair.

If you as a parent are still irritated with all of the board shenanigans that have occurred or may occur in the future, it is time for some of you to step up to the plate and run for school trustee.

Get a good group of helpers together and begin to get your name recognized.

Use social media. Poll parents for their concerns. Suntan and go door to door.

If elected, ask that the whole system of grade reconfiguration be reconsidered on an individual-area basis. At least until there are adequate facilities. There is nothing to lose and maybe some positive changes for students will happen. It is your children.

Reg Volk writes on politics and local issues. Email: regvolk@shaw.ca