This week the Prince George Citizen will be posting a series of questions asked of the 13 candidates running as trustees for School District No. 57 .
Cory Antrim Connections through school and community programs that are created and led by our indigenous youth, community leaders, and elders are how we can make progress and approach the diverse issues that impede the success of our students. Building supportive programs, activities, and authentic relationships together, which are accessible to all students will help create shared connections and bridge gaps at all levels of our community.
Craig Brennan The SD57 Board and staff must work together as partners with the Lheidli T'enneh First Nations, McLeod Lake Indian Band, the Simpcw First Nation, DPAC and other stakeholders to improve Indigenous Education. We must be better at providing programs and curricula that meet the cultural, historical and social needs of indigenous students and families, recognizing that learning involves more than classrooms.
Milton Mahoney Partnership with stakeholders is a very positive step forward. Lowering the bar by passing sub-par scores will show greater graduation numbers to appease government stats, but it’s a false success. We are still pushing students into their post-secondary endeavours unprepared. There is only one way to go, RAISE THE BAR, give students the tools, resources, and encouragement to succeed.
Bob Schroeder To improve Indigenous education outcomes, including graduation rates, we need to first look at literacy and numeracy rates. These are crucial to achieving better outcomes overall. We would need to look at what programs are being used in our schools with readers who are falling behind. They don’t seem to work very well. We need to look at the methods being employed in our schools in regard to literacy.
The foundation for education is laid in the home. The indigenous people could start by reducing the number of children they produce suffering from FASD and by telling their children that learning to read and write English and do arithmetic is important.