The Suburban
Wednesday, 9 April 2014
Compliments on your April 2 West Island edition of The Suburban, which included the comprehensive article by journalist Robert Frank: LBPSB reverses position on emergency measures and a letter to the editor entitled: Getting the facts right.
Both pieces came a long way in exposing problems that have existed at the Lester B. Pearson School Board because of its long-held, narrow view of democracy.
First: Even though the article mentions the disarray of commissioners concerning a policy on “emergency measures,” it is the general disrespect of the taxpaying public by the board, that stands out.
This was evidenced at the last Pearson Council meeting when Chairperson Suanne Stein Day called the security guard because a taxpayer exceeded the new rule of “three minutes allocated to speakers” during the public question period.
Second: The letter from former teacher-union head, Jim Wilson, in rebuttal to claims made in a letter on March 26 by former LBPSB chairman Marcus Tabachnick, was spot on.
Teachers were disrespected; their concerns regarding the proper tools, such as updated books, were dismissed.
There is a culture of self-entitlement at Pearson; self-aggrandizement and school board secrecy is the norm. The silencing of the public must come to an end. The neglect of community and parents’ concerns must stop.
A change is needed. It is imperative this November that change should happen.
Chris Eustace
Pierrefonds
