In response to the article, “Pornography is not education,” I seriously question the wisdom in eliminating the family life program and Cathi Johnston’s position (which already was only a .60 full time equivalent). My daughter, who is finishing Grade 4, attended one of Cathi’s family life sessions with me in the fall that was offered to parents and kids in Grade 4/5/6. It was invaluable. After the session, she said to me, “that teacher (Cathi) was really great because she said there were no stupid questions and we could ask her whatever we wanted.” How many kids will now miss the important, factual information she provided in an open and safe environment?
I struggle with the school district’s decision to eliminate this position through cutbacks. I can’t see how an already overloaded classroom teacher will be able to deliver this in their curriculum in the same atmosphere of trust that Cathi did. Kids will either be too embarrassed to ask questions or worse will go to the Internet for answers. It seems some of the decisions that are being made now with respect to budgets and eliminating positions like this one in particular, will prove short-sighted in a few years when we see other societal and public health problems increasing. Could no funds be found to maintain this valuable program? Coming on the heels of the decision to maintain the status quo of nine school trustee positions, this is troubling.
Sheri Hamilton
