Children should come first
Cariboo Press -- Vernon Morning Star
March 21, 2007
Letters -- Roy Humphrey

Re: the decision by the government to reduce funding for early learning and child care. I know first hand how important early learning and schooling can be. I grew up in South London (UK) during the war. We were a very poor family who were lucky to stay alive. Our school was a pile of rubble and for many years there were no infant schools. When the war ended and things started to get back to normal, there was a huge discrepancy in children's education.

Those who had been evacuated to the country and continued schooling were way ahead of those left behind. Without the basic skills of the 3 R's it was always a struggle trying to keep up. There's no fun or enthusiasm in schooling when you are one of the class 'dummies'.

... The difference between who I am and who I might have been was directly related to my early education.

Early learning, day care, or nursery schools are arguably the most important part of a child's education. In the first few years they are able to absorb so much learning. They also learn how to socialize and respect each other. They learn discipline and self control. They learn that learning can be fun and enjoy the excitement and satisfaction of achieving their goals. Early learning is the foundation, then education provides the power for every profession or trade. I am appalled at the lack of this basic understanding from those in government who make these decisions. We are desperately short of skilled workers. Most families can only survive when both parents work - all industries are desperately short of an available workforce. Mothers with small children are needed in the work place - who is going to run this town (and this country) when the 20 - 40 year olds have to stay home and mind the children. Mothers are no longer just helping out in difficult times - they are an integral part of the country's workforce.

Local politicians are supposed to be representing us. I cannot believe that our province has a majority of voters who are short-sighted and ignorant, and don't realize that child care is part of the foundation of a community - and the responsibility lies with all of us!

Yet these lame brains in power try to tell us we can't afford to fund nursery schools. Has it not been proven time and time again that well educated children are the biggest asset any country can have for its future prosperity in the world? The social welfare and prison cost of future delinquent generations must be a factor when deciding the expenditure on today's small children and their education. This is not just shooting ourselves in the foot, it's a shot in each foot!

May I respectfully suggest a solution to this problem? We give auditors of all government departments all the power it needs to root out and prosecute all who misappropriate, steal or mismanage the money belonging to the people of this country.

When caught they should be dealt with to the full extent. Then in time we might get rid of the corruption and waste. We will then discover that we have more than enough money to educate our children properly.