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AT YOUR SERVICE: Trustees divided on question of socializing kids

Question-and-answer feature calls on those elected to office in Langley
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Do you have a question you’d like to see put to the Langley school trustees? Email your idea to editor@langleyadvancetimes.com.

Langley Advance Times is offering this weekly feature, called “At Your Service.”

It’s another forum in which to put questions to our local politicians about key issues facing our community and its residents.

Using a basic question-and-answer format, elected officials will be asked one question at a time and given the opportunity to respond (to a maximum of 250 words) on that said issue.

Alternating between elected groups, Langley City and Langley Township councils, Langley school board, Langley MLAs, and Langley MPs each have a chance to participate.

The answers provided will be published in their entirety online Sundays.

MOST RECENT: AT YOUR SERVICE – Protected bike lanes on key Township roads is encouraged by council

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QUESTION

Each school trustee was asked the same question: Are teachers asked to do too much when it comes to socializing students, rather than working on core educational tasks?

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ANSWERS

Board chair Candy Ashdown

A. This trustee failed to reply to this query, prior to deadline.

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Trustee Holly Dickinson

A. The problem is not that teachers are expected to do too much socialization, rather it is that there are too many classrooms that are over class size and competition limits, not enough resources or support staff, and the chronic issue of non-enrolling teachers being pulled from their support work in order to fill in when there are no TOCs.

All children need socialization, as learning how to share, be kind, think critically, and work with others has always been part of the educational K-12 experience. Providing socialization in a public institution is absolutely vital to providing equitable opportunities to all of our youth.

Pitting ideologies of teaching core subjects vs. teaching socialization is dangerous. It is not an either/or question. It completely ignores the root cause of the issue – failing to provide adequate funding and resources has caused an educational crisis that directly affects every aspect of our school system.

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Trustee Charlie Fox

A. The teaching profession has evolved in recent years as society has changed.

The teacher of today is expected to deal with more issues involving student socialization than in past years.

The teacher must continue to emphasize academic rigour and high outcomes, while balancing the social and emotional needs of students.

The key to this balance is giving the teachers the tools to support them in the classroom.

In my opinion, teacher education programs do not adequately equip our new teachers so that becomes an emphasis of teacher professional development and support within the district, which is an added challenge and responsibility – one we take seriously.

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Trustee Joel Neufeld

A. Yes, I believe teachers are asked to do too much when it comes to socializing students, rather than working on core educational tasks?

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Trustee Sarb Rai

A.As a school board trustee and a parent, I value the importance of incorporating socialization into a child’s education for development, and acknowledge that it is an inherent component of learning.

However, it is crucial to recognize that core educational competencies such as reading, writing, math, and science should take precedence over socialization activities in the school setting.

To strike a balance between these two important aspects of education, it is essential for students to have additional support through extracurricular activities and family interactions to develop the social and emotional skills that are necessary for success in life outside of school.

By working collaboratively with teachers, trustees, and parents, we can ensure that our students receive a well-rounded education that will prepare them for success in all aspects of life.

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Trustee Tony Ward

A. This trustee failed to reply to this query, prior to deadline.

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Trustee Marnie Wilson

A. This trustee failed to reply to this query, prior to deadline.

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UP NEXT

Next week, Langley MLAS are being asked: How much more work needs to be done to upgrade dikes and provide sufficient flood protection to withstand another atmospheric river, like the one that hit the Fraser Valley more than a year ago?

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Watch for their answers online Sunday.

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Roxanne Hooper

About the Author: Roxanne Hooper

I began in the news industry at age 15, but honestly, I knew I wanted to be a community journalist even before that.
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