Funding Leaves Son On the Sidelines
By 250 News
Provincial NDP leader Carole James meets with teachers, parents, students and Trustees to talk Education
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Thursday, August 26, 2010 01:23 PM
Prince George B.C.- Provincial New Democrat Leader Carole James was in Prince George today to kick off a three week provincial tour to gather information on education concerns.
Joining James this morning was the mother of a Prince George High School student who says her key issue is funding for special events or equipment.
The woman says she is a single parent, and is unemployed, and says not all students are able to have access to the same educational opportunities. She says she cannot afford the funds often needed for field trips and that means her high school aged son has to stay behind “So he is being punished because of my economic situation.” She adds that her son’s peers now know his family doesn’t have much money, and that is causing pressure as well.
Two School District 57 Trustees who were on hand for this morning’s news conference say the School District has a special “Financial Hardship policy” to ensure all students have equal access to such events and special equipment regardless of economic background. The woman says she has not been made aware of any such policy or that discretionary funding may be available.
Here are some of the highlights of that policy:
2.1. A school may charge fees for the purchase or rental of a musical instrument for a student’s personal use.
2.2. A school may charge a student enrolled in a specialty academy fees relating to the direct cost incurred by the school in providing the specialty academy that are in addition to the costs of providing a standard educational program.
2.3. A school may charge fees for the purchase or rental of tools, equipment and materials necessary for a student’s participation in a trades program.
3. Access to the goods and services outlined in Regulations 2.1, 2.2 and 2.3, as well as to co-curricular programs and opportunities is available to all students.
No student is to be denied that access because of financial hardship.
The policy further states that the school must advise parents of all fees and the options available for those who face financial hardship. The options are: deferred payment, payment over time, partial waiver of fees, full waiver of fees.
Trustee Valentine Crawford says it is clear there needs to be a better job done by all involved to communicate the policy.
James says she wants to make supporting education a priority for her party. “nothing could be more important than making sure we are providing for a good education for our young people, for people who are looking for new employment, and at a time of difficult economic times, education is key.”
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Posted by: gamblor on August 26 2010 3:24 PMThe young man in the story is at an important turning point in his life, one that will likely determine his political affiliation and work ethic for the rest of his days. He could follow mommy's example and whine to your local NDP leader for a handout, or he could take some initiative in his life and get a job like millions of other high school kids and pay his own way, maybe even kick in some cash to help out mom. I honestly hope the young man man picks the latter road, its much more rewarding for him, his family his community and his country.
PS, to the boy's mom: the new restaurants in the Sandman are hiring, take a shower, change out of your sweats, put down your Carole James poster and get your unemployed butt down there.
PS, to the boy's mom: the new restaurants in the Sandman are hiring, take a shower, change out of your sweats, put down your Carole James poster and get your unemployed butt down there.
Posted by: interceptor on August 26 2010 3:57 PMCan't afford field trips? I have several teenage students and the field trips were all between $3 and about $8 for transportaion or entry fees (ie swimming). I do not know if her situation is that tight but I certainly hope she doesn't smoke or drink or buy lottery tickets then.
Ps - I can afford the extra fees but that doesn't mean I agree with them. I don't see what a day of skating adds to education when the teachers complain they do not have enough class time to get through the curriculum but now I'm off topic...
Ps - I can afford the extra fees but that doesn't mean I agree with them. I don't see what a day of skating adds to education when the teachers complain they do not have enough class time to get through the curriculum but now I'm off topic...
Posted by: Andyfreeze on August 26 2010 4:05 PMCan't argue with that logic gamblor!
Posted by: noisy on August 26 2010 4:20 PMI don't know this woman or her situation, but you're all being rather harsh -- especially given that you don't seem to know her either. I can afford the extra fees, but man, any parent with school aged children knows that you start off the year paying and you pay all year.
Yes, sonny should get himself a job to help out, too. If he wants the extras, he should be learning to pay for them himself.
As for Carole James, where was she when all our schools were being closed? Pfft.
Yes, sonny should get himself a job to help out, too. If he wants the extras, he should be learning to pay for them himself.
As for Carole James, where was she when all our schools were being closed? Pfft.
Posted by: porter on August 26 2010 4:31 PMGamblor... that was awesome until your advice on her appearance. It looks like a decent sweater to me and she doesn't looked unwashed.
Posted by: PrinceGeorge on August 26 2010 5:18 PM"The woman says she has not been made aware of any such policy or that discretionary funding may be available."
Well now that she knows she may/will apply for the funding that is available for her situation.
James didn't do her homework, again, or she would have asked the woman if she had already tried that before she (James) went complaining to the media.
Well now that she knows she may/will apply for the funding that is available for her situation.
James didn't do her homework, again, or she would have asked the woman if she had already tried that before she (James) went complaining to the media.
Posted by: Becca on August 26 2010 5:26 PMSo the assumption is that she is not a good mother and lazy because she speaks out about the decrease of public funded school activities. Why? Because she is a woman?
We all have to admit how much things have declined in schools. I remember swimming lessons, band, sports teams all in school hours and/or at least school funded? I know I have to pay over $200 for my son to play on the school volleyball team. Maybe the school will not "leave him behind" but I bet they will not cover the costs of travelling with the team to other cities for tournaments. Sports aside; how about costs for taking credited classes such as woodwork, Grade 12 PE, art?
So, in the end students are being left out whether the parent is on disability, working poor, EI, or Income Assistance.
Education, like health care, child care, and many other areas, are mostly aimed at the very young, women, and the very old. Not an interest to our wonderful Liberals, hu?
Not unless they own a business....
We all have to admit how much things have declined in schools. I remember swimming lessons, band, sports teams all in school hours and/or at least school funded? I know I have to pay over $200 for my son to play on the school volleyball team. Maybe the school will not "leave him behind" but I bet they will not cover the costs of travelling with the team to other cities for tournaments. Sports aside; how about costs for taking credited classes such as woodwork, Grade 12 PE, art?
So, in the end students are being left out whether the parent is on disability, working poor, EI, or Income Assistance.
Education, like health care, child care, and many other areas, are mostly aimed at the very young, women, and the very old. Not an interest to our wonderful Liberals, hu?
Not unless they own a business....
Posted by: HD on August 26 2010 6:08 PMI'm fed up with all these "single moms" crying the blues.
We are creating a society depending in give-aways.
They should think twice before they crawl in the sack with the first guy they meet.
We are creating a society depending in give-aways.
They should think twice before they crawl in the sack with the first guy they meet.
Posted by: PrinceGeorge on August 26 2010 6:58 PMBecca, you are ignoring the paragraph which concludes with: "No student is to be denied that access because of financial hardship."
It's from the Financial Hardship Policy document which is already in place.
During the NDP years a teacher friend of mine often felt compelled to buy school supplies such as pencils and paper for his class and pay for them out of his own pocket.
There wasn't enough to go around!
I wasn't going to bring this up but you are ranting about the "wonderful Liberals" and forgetting about the other government which was far from perfect. Some of us remember, though.
It's from the Financial Hardship Policy document which is already in place.
During the NDP years a teacher friend of mine often felt compelled to buy school supplies such as pencils and paper for his class and pay for them out of his own pocket.
There wasn't enough to go around!
I wasn't going to bring this up but you are ranting about the "wonderful Liberals" and forgetting about the other government which was far from perfect. Some of us remember, though.
Posted by: Eagleone on August 26 2010 9:47 PMWe need a free enterprise policy... equal opportunity for all children... this especially applies to primary and secondary education. You can't blame a single mom who I'm sure does her best, or she wouldn't be going to the media.
The education system needs to factor in that all families are not financially healthy, and that a child should not have opportunities denied in the education process simply because they come from a poor family. As far as education is concerned its the responsibility of society to ensure an equal opportunity to that education until the kid graduates... and then and only then should the onus be on the kid to make the kind of decisions that are a result of ones social status.
Education is suppose to be the great equalizer in our society and if we lose that we lose a lot more then a few children slipping through the cracks.
The education system needs to factor in that all families are not financially healthy, and that a child should not have opportunities denied in the education process simply because they come from a poor family. As far as education is concerned its the responsibility of society to ensure an equal opportunity to that education until the kid graduates... and then and only then should the onus be on the kid to make the kind of decisions that are a result of ones social status.
Education is suppose to be the great equalizer in our society and if we lose that we lose a lot more then a few children slipping through the cracks.
Posted by: acrider54 on August 27 2010 5:35 AMHD
"They should think twice before they crawl in the sack with the first guy they meet"
No call for that comment
"They should think twice before they crawl in the sack with the first guy they meet"
No call for that comment
Posted by: SummerSoul on August 27 2010 6:54 AM A society which does not provide education for its young based on ability and not money is not worthy of being called civilised.
We should be taxing on the ability to pay and funding on the ability to learn and contribute to future society.
We should be taxing on the ability to pay and funding on the ability to learn and contribute to future society.
Posted by: Starbright on August 27 2010 9:23 AMHD
I have to comment here also on your comment " They should think twice before they crawl in the sack with the first guy they meet"
That was not called for at all. I am a single Mother. And not for the reason that you suggest in your comment, I know you don't know me but your comment went too deep.
I have to comment here also on your comment " They should think twice before they crawl in the sack with the first guy they meet"
That was not called for at all. I am a single Mother. And not for the reason that you suggest in your comment, I know you don't know me but your comment went too deep.
Posted by: Boudicca on August 27 2010 10:21 AMyou people make me sick.....just because this women is a single mother you bash her...then because she is unemployed you call her lazy....guess what she is not the only person in this stupid redneck town who is unemployed, because there are no damn jobs here....you all can sit on your high horses and look down your noses at people who dont have it as good as you do..
Sometimes life doesnt work out the way you want it to no matter how hard you try...
welcome to Prince George where if you are unemployed you are lazy, and if you are a single mother you'er a whore
you people are idiots
Sometimes life doesnt work out the way you want it to no matter how hard you try...
welcome to Prince George where if you are unemployed you are lazy, and if you are a single mother you'er a whore
you people are idiots
Posted by: IMO on August 27 2010 10:37 AM"They should think twice before they crawl in the sack with the first guy they meet"
HD, maybe you should elaborate on what the MAN who helped create this child should of thought about as well.
MAYBE if more men stayed around and helped support THEIR children at least until they are educated people like you could keep their mouths shut!
HD, maybe you should elaborate on what the MAN who helped create this child should of thought about as well.
MAYBE if more men stayed around and helped support THEIR children at least until they are educated people like you could keep their mouths shut!
Posted by: porter on August 27 2010 3:24 PMSomeone is just upset cause noone will go in the sack with him. That aside. Summersoul... I really disagree with the "based on ability to pay" statement. EVERYONE should contribute to society. Drives me nuts when just because you succeed you are required to carry more of the yoke.
Posted by: weaksauce on August 27 2010 4:13 PMCarol James rocks! She is one of our best weapons in the battle against socialism.
Posted by: gus on August 28 2010 3:07 PM"I really disagree with the "based on ability to pay" ....... Drives me nuts when just because you succeed you are required to carry more of the yoke."
I think it would be very poor judgement on the part of a member of a society to not "pay" based on their ability to do so. If they do not have the ability, how are you going to make them provide a service or money? Maybe we can start prisons for the poverty stricken as they used to have not too long ago. In fact, some will say that is partly what we have right now.
If we were to rely on those who cannot "pay" to support the upkeep of a social order because they do not have the money, the physical, mental or emotional ability, we would be very poorly off. I think any reasonable person should be able to see that right away. Supporting each other is the essence of a successful, not a failing, society.
In order for a society to survive, that society HAS to depend on the ability of its members to "pay" how they best can whether that is by money, (which seems to be the only way some people can measure anything of value ... which is a very sad state of affairs) volunteer work, doing some work that others shun away from, etc. It is an integrated system of support.
Then again, if you do not like that, you can always continue to support the rise of a subculture that will eventually rebel and overthrow the governing class. Time we had another rebellion somewhere. Might as well be in Canada ... :-)
I think it would be very poor judgement on the part of a member of a society to not "pay" based on their ability to do so. If they do not have the ability, how are you going to make them provide a service or money? Maybe we can start prisons for the poverty stricken as they used to have not too long ago. In fact, some will say that is partly what we have right now.
If we were to rely on those who cannot "pay" to support the upkeep of a social order because they do not have the money, the physical, mental or emotional ability, we would be very poorly off. I think any reasonable person should be able to see that right away. Supporting each other is the essence of a successful, not a failing, society.
In order for a society to survive, that society HAS to depend on the ability of its members to "pay" how they best can whether that is by money, (which seems to be the only way some people can measure anything of value ... which is a very sad state of affairs) volunteer work, doing some work that others shun away from, etc. It is an integrated system of support.
Then again, if you do not like that, you can always continue to support the rise of a subculture that will eventually rebel and overthrow the governing class. Time we had another rebellion somewhere. Might as well be in Canada ... :-)
Ps - I can afford the extra fees but that doesn't mean I agree with them. I don't see what a day of skating adds to education when the teachers complain they do not have enough class time to get through the curriculum but now I'm off topic...