Want to read how trustee hopefuls in other wards responded to our school-themed scenarios? Click here.
You suddenly find yourself back in grade school. You have all of your grown-up life experience, but you’re moving around the school in a young person’s body. You’re in Grade 1 and Halloween is fast approaching. Which costume do you wear to school and why?
Public school board candidates
Mike Bradshaw: Han Solo. He went from being a loner to recognizing the power of working with a team and became a key part of the Rebel Alliance. It’s never too early to teach kids about leadership and followership . He also pilots the Millennium Falcon, and is way cooler than I would be.
Karen Draper: I dressed up last year to go trick or treating with my 3 year old. I was in a sparkly colourful masquerade mask that was butterfly like and a pretty dress. It was blue and silver and black. because those are my favorite colours.
Shauna Eldan: I would go as the newest Disney princess, because we don’t get enough chances to dress up as a princess.
Samantha Macleod: I would go as my future self. I would love the irony, even if no one else got the joke.
Carla Obuck: I don’t think you will like this answer: Wonder Woman, so that I can kick the ass of the pedophile that was abusing me at the time.
Sara Peden: I’m dressed up as a doctor because it best fits my idea of identifying problems and figuring out how to treat them.
Jennifer Seamone: Looking back to grade school, I realize that money was tight for my parents. Costumes were not a top priority. With my adult knowledge, I would encourage my grade one-self to not give-up. Turn that green garbage bag into the best costume you can make. Choose a look that is doable and be creative. Look for any small items around the house, ask friends if they have ribbon, sparkles, buttons. Start early, don’t procrastinate, and be proud of what you are able to create using your wits and will. The unique woodland fairy costume I create is a thing of wonder. Most importantly, it is unique expression of who I am and what I can accomplish when life gives me lemons, or green garbage bags.
Tory Tomblin: Wonder Woman! She is strong willed and doesn’t back down from a challenge. But, she is a diplomat and a lover of peace.
Separate school boad candidates
Antonio Balangue: Abraham Lincoln. He is one of the greatest American presidents. He emancipated the slaves. I will not tolerate slavery. I will not tolerate man’s inhumanity against his fellow man. I don’t believe one race is superior to the other.
Mary Martin: First, I would recognize that as a Grade One student, I can be a leader and role model. Whatever costume I selected, I would ensure that it represented a positive, aspirational being.
How time flies. You’re in Grade 9. Your teacher is insisting you vote for which school club to cut because there’s a shortage of teachers to run the clubs. Which one gets the thumbs down? Explain your decision, please.
Public school board candidates
Mike Bradshaw: Chess club. I chose the Chess Club, but would fight to keep every club going. Clubs give kids an opportunity to pursue outside interests often outside of their own friend and age group. Surely we could find a teacher or parent interested in helping out or run the club concurrently with another one.
Karen Draper: Gay straight alliance club. Like I said before we need to prioritize our focuses and spending. Our Education Minister conviently issued this and only this insight into the new curriculum that is being built and convieniently it has been made a hot topic in our debates. I believe the government and corporate collusions on this matter are extremely manipulative and have already witnessed all the social justice groups pounce on anyone that opposes this. I have every respect possible for the LGBT rights but i refuse to debate this further when there are more important issues among the majority. The LGBT community has a large community support system that is accessible to youth so I don’t want any one to feel that “diversity and tolerance” doesnt go forward into our schools.
Shauna Eldan: Sports intramural club. Phys’ed can still get the children moving, even with this club gone.
Samantha Macleod: Science club. We do a lot of science in school and I would love to keep it, but in a lot of schools there is a real lack of the other clubs, and science is “protected” via the fascination with STEM education.
Carla Obuck: AV club. None, these are all important groups to the kids, look at other alternatives to keep them going. Thanks for not allowing me to answer this question fully.
Sara Peden: AV club. I think that the activities that the AV club participants are interested in can best be incorporated into other clubs. For example, there could be audio/visual section of Drama club, sports, science and any other that would benefit from AV support.
Jennifer Seamone: AV club. I have chosen to eliminate the AV club. Most students have a phone or laptop, or access to one. With unlimited apps to create videos and imaginative images online, it seems my friends and I do this AV stuff all the time. The rest of the clubs give kids something to do that interests them, and is more unique. I think all kids should have fun clubs where they can be themselves. ~grade 9 Jennifer
Tory Tomblin: Chess club. Students could still play chess at lunch and recess or online. It is the one club that could continue without teacher support.
Separate school boad candidates
Antonio Balangue: Gay straight alliance club.What they need is acceptance for who they are. Unlike other clubs, it does not help the students to develop skills. I will allow them to form the club but without a teacher to run it.
Mary Martin: Chess club. As a Grade Nine student, I would not make that decision unilaterally because I would recognize that a decision such as this belongs to many. It would be important to ensure that any clubs created are welcoming to all who wish to join. Because grade nine students have an acute sense of social justice, I expect that meeting the needs of the most vulnerable would be a priority. Given the choices, I would speculate that the chess club may be of lowest interest.
You’re in high school. You realize that one of your friends has been bullying another student because of his sexual orientation. You go to a teacher about the need to start a Gay Straight Alliance club, but her reception is lukewarm. You can tell she’s not going to help. How are you going to make this happen?
Public school board candidates
Mike Bradshaw: I would approach another teacher about starting the club. If I was again unable to get the help needed to do it, I’d approach a parent or the principal for assistance, even gathering a group of names and signatures of students willing to join the club if that is what’s needed to convince them the club is needed. I’d also have a pretty serious chat with my friend about their behavior. Bullying of any kind is a serious issue and there is no place for it in our schools. It’s why we taken such a strong stance against all forms of it and have put forward the idea of having an ombudsman reporting directly to the Board of Trustees.
Karen Draper: I won’t be. As per my answer above
Shauna Eldan: Find another teacher, or go to the principal, and get support from other students to make it happen
Samantha Macleod: Honestly, I would not stop at the teacher. I would get other students who are willing to join and approach all the teachers I can, and the principal. If that didn’t work, I would call my local trustee ?
Carla Obuck: Talk to my parents, my kids know that they can come and talk to me about anything in their world, and as a parent I would champion for them.
Sara Peden: I’m going to do a bit of independent research of my own (and maybe get a trusted adult to help if I can) to learn more about what I might try. I learn that school’s need to provide an advisor and so I’ll go to the Principal (or even higher if I need to) to get help. In the meantime, I’m talking to friends and people I know from other clubs and activities and getting ready behind the scenes to launch (and to add voice if we need to go higher to get admin support).
Jennifer Seamone: I am a determined person, always have been. When a teacher is not keen to help, I would go to all my friends and rally support. From there we would ask more teachers and keep going until we have enough support to start a Gay Straight Alliance club. Never give up after one ‘no’. Bullying is not acceptable, and only through communication and understanding can we work to make it stop.
Tory Tomblin: I would go to another teacher/ principal until I found someone who would enthusiastically assist me. I would then approach the original teacher and share the reasons why it is so important to create a safe an supportive place for LGBTQ2+ youth and invite her come come to a meeting.
Separate school boad candidates
Antonio Balangue: I not organize a Gay Straight Alliance club but I will very actively prevent my friends from bullying another student because of his sexual orientation.
Mary Martin: First, I would be speaking to my friend to ensure that his or she knew that her behavior is unacceptable. Secondly, I would support the vulnerable student – each student needs to feel safe and welcomed every day – no exceptions. Thirdly, I would speak to an administrator about the need to ensure that the school environment is safe and welcoming – there are many ways with which to accomplish this – clubs are only one. I would recognize as a high school student that everyone is responsible for a safe, welcoming, inclusive culture at a school.
It is nearing the end of the tenth grade and marijuana has been legalized for a little over a month. You and a few other students learn that a teacher smokes a lot of cannabis at home. Do you think she should be held to a different standard when it comes to her recreation?
Public school board candidates
Mike Bradshaw: I trust that teachers would apply the same standards to cannabis use as they do for any other substance. As long at the teacher’s cannabis use isn’t affecting their ability to provide an education and it’s done on their own time, I don’t have a problem with it.
Karen Draper: With the variety of proven medicinial benifits there could be a variety of reasons she uses other than for euphoria. Does she have a presciption? I am opposed to promoting illegal drug use to children and would still promote all the information about the affects of drug use be shared. i think the information on marijuana has been updated. It looks like now it would be as debatable as finding out the teacher drinks wine after work and if that too should be addressed and if there is need to be held to a different standard regarding alcohol as well.
Shauna Eldan: I think Teachers should lead by example as role models for their students, with acceptable behaviour.
Samantha Macleod: We have had these discussions in our home, actually. I think that legalization does cause us to examine our societal biases, but really, it is legal, at home, and how is it different than finding out your teacher drinks alcohol at home? If it is affecting their work, like, say, alcoholism, that is one thing, but if it is not, it is simply an opportunity to address what makes something a “problem.””
Carla Obuck: All drugs should be treated equally, whether it be alcohol or pot.
Sara Peden: Different standard than who? I like to think that if legal, I would think exactly the same if they smoke “a lot” of cannabis, as if I learned a teacher drank “a lot” at home.
Jennifer Seamone: Marijuana is legal, plain and simple. If it is legal to do so, the teacher has the full right to smoke it in their home, or use cannabis in any way within the confines of the law. Teachers should act within the law and set a good example at school. The privacy of the teacher is important, and they should not be held to a different standard when it comes to recreation.
Tory Tomblin: It will depend on the laws around use when that happens. As a paramedic, I cannot have a glass of wine within 8 hours of my shift. I would expect no less of a teacher, who is responsible for the education and well being of children.
Separate school boad candidates
Antonio Balangue: No, as long as it doesn’t adversely affect her performance as a teacher and as long as she doesn’t encourage her students to smoke cannabis.
Mary Martin: As a Grade Ten student, I learn a lot about leadership and integrity from interacting and observing the role models around me. Teachers are a critical role model. It is vitally important that we have educators who are inspirational; who can bring out the best in people. In my experience as a student, I have been most fortunate to have teachers who do just that. Like everyone else, teachers will have to navigate a dynamic environment- the legalization of recreational marijuana is one such example. It will be important to work together.
Responses have been edited for typos, but not for grammar or syntax.