A Deafening Silence

For the last couple of months we have, collectively and individually, made our opinions known regarding the threat of school closures. We have attended public meetings; sent delegations to board meetings; aired our views in articles and letters to newspapers; and we have talked to several reporters from the media - but there has been absolutely no official and public response from school boards or from the Department of Learning to any of our concerns. For instance:

- We have consistently questioned the wisdom of the creation of the mega-school divisions, and of the theory that bigger is better.

- We have explained in great detail all the consequences to our communities of school closures.

- We have frequently referred to reports that there is a list of a total of 160 schools which the Department has targeted for closure.

- We have exposed the financial advantage to school boards of busing students long distances instead of keeping schools open.

- We have explained the many social and educational advantages enjoyed by children who attend school in their own communities.

- We have drawn media attention to the ever-increasing number of administrative staff in the school divisions.

- We have reminded everyone, including the media, of those comments from the Deputy Minister regarding the closure of 20 schools per year.

- There was wide reporting of the SARM resolution calling on the Minister to place a moratorium on school closures for five years.

Yet - there has been no public response by the school boards to our concerns; no denials from the department of our accusations; no promise to put a stop to these reviews.

Why this deafening silence? Is it that we are of so little importance to these people that they are treating us with the contempt they think we deserve? Or is it simply that they have no defence against these obvious truths?