It’s not exactly a slice of Canadiana. And it’s not how we envision the concept of hosting youth in our school system.
There are 18 Korean youngsters and four adults living in a four-bedroom house in a toney part of Nanoose Bay as part of School District 69’s International Student Program.
School board officials say we should not be alarmed, that this rack ‘em and stack ‘em set-up is a cultural thing. Koreans, we are told, are comfortable with this kind of living situation.
That may be so, but this isn’t Korea. And isn’t the whole idea of living and studying abroad about taking in another land’s culture?
At least one of the students is attending elementary school in Nanoose, which puts him or her at 10 years of age or less. Anyone else scared for this youngster, and for all of these guests to our country?
Officials from the school district and the regional district have what only can be described as a cavalier attitude toward this situation. For starters, the fire chief in Nanoose Bay was never told about the house. Call us crazy, but with 22 people in a four-bedroom house, one would think someone might want Chief Doug Penny to have a look at the place to make sure there’s a fire escape plan at the very least.
The regional district has said the house is not in full compliance with building codes and/or bylaws. Still, an RDN official says he’s not going to direct any enforcement measures because he says there’s nothing to enforce. Huh?
The school district board chair, someone who has been diligent enough in her work to visit schools to check on broken windows, hasn’t been to the house in Nanoose, doesn’t seem to know much about the situation, and says there’s one in Bowser too, but she’s not sure where it is or how many people are stacked in that home.
This is a disaster waiting to happen. And it’s not how we should treat those who seek our country for a cultural and educational experience.
What’s next? Who knows. Like all perplexing stories where things seem to be hidden from view by bureaucrats and politicians, the best route for answers is to follow the money.
— Editorial by John Harding
