Teachers slam Liberal pilot project
Prince George Citizen
September 4, 2008

A teachers' group is slamming a B.C. government pilot project that could see community services such as health clinics and child-care programs operating at three Vancouver elementary schools.

Education Minister Shirley Bond said the pilot project announced Wednesday is aimed at maximizing underutilized space. Enrolment at B.C. schools is down by 60,000 students this year.

But Glen Hansman, president of the Vancouver Elementary School Teachers' Association, said Wednesday that a similar program existed in several schools but was slashed by the government about eight years ago.

"Parents were invited in, daycare programs were available and the community was engaged in the library services," he said. "There was discourse between the different services in the neighbourhood to increase participation between what was happening in the school and connecting the school to other public services in the neighbourhood."

Bond and Premier Gordon Campbell announced the Neighbourhoods of Learning concept at an elementary school in Campbell's riding.

Hansman criticized the government because two of the three schools involved in the project are in Campbell's upscale Point Grey riding.