It was with dismay that I read an article saying the Cowichan Valley School District was joining with Nanaimo-Ladysmith and Sooke in boycotting and severing ties with Camp Qwanoes.
I was a teacher in the public school system for 33 years, including nine years in Cowichan. As a teacher, I held to the premise that with any controversial subject you gave both sides to an issue fairly and let the students decide. I went out of my way not to impose any beliefs I had on any students and I believe Camp Qwanoes staff would follow that same precept.
The Parent Teachers Organizations and the districts worked well together when I was in the system, which is no longer the case from some of the reports I read from across Canada. Parents have to have meaningful input into the school system. I believe schools should remain neutral as far as possible, which is not happening now.
With the advent of COVID, the school systems were devastated and students missed a lot of meaningful teaching. I believe the emphasis today should be on gaining back that teaching and covering the basics.
The school board is not only discriminating against the camp but the many thousands of young people and adults who through the years have made Qwanoes one of the finest camps on this island. What they sign as being a camp worker is their own business and I don’t believe you have the right to the suppositions you instil into it.
The camp has been running for many years and many students from the school districts experienced skills which they might never have had the opportunity to do so.
What has happened to good old fashioned common sense?
David Lewis,
Crofton