To the Editor,
Re: School zone standards seem to be haphazard, Letters, June 2.
I have noticed the difference in school-zone signage in Nanaimo over the years. (Kudos to the letter writer for doing the research).
The discrepancy between how Cilaire Elementary and Quarterway Elementary are treated is galling and obvious to any casual observer.
I once pointed this out to my friend who lives in Cilaire and she responded “well, look at the area.” Cilaire is inhabited by retired judges, lawyers and doctors. Whereas, kids who have traditionally attended Quarterway are the offspring of working-class families and therefore expendable. (Dickens remains with us today.)
At the very least, there should be school-zone signage on Bowen Road near Quarterway school. These children’s lives are not of less value than those who attend Cilaire. Shame on the City of Nanaimo for allowing this class discrimination to continue for many decades. Put signage up on Bowen Road and confirm to our citizens that our children’s lives are all precious, no matter what their parents do for a living.
Linda KeaysNanaimo
To the Editor,
I saw the letter writer’s point that school zone implementation should be better standardized for different traffic configurations throughout the city, and found it an interesting observation. However, in all walks of life we entitle ourselves to judgmental and accusatory rhetoric, of which the past election is a prime example and ‘Are children going to school in a higher tax bracket area safer than those that are not?’ and ‘money or children’s lives’ are, also. It is a form of verbal violence. We spend a lot of money and resources to untangle our conflicts, yet we are blind to the fact that we make them. Food for thought.
Ingrid Van RensburgNanaimo
