Letters to The Vancouver Sun, Feb. 1, 2020:
Credit to Author: Carolyn Soltau| Date: Sat, 01 Feb 2020 02:00:06 +0000
While we can all appreciate that Federal Health Minister Patty Hajdu is following current health protocols and is working hard to keep public alarm at bay, I don’t share her view that the recent “sequence of events (in Toronto) shows current systems are working as intended,” if the intent is to do everything to prevent the arrival of a foreign illness.
It is not unknown for travellers to downplay or even lie about their health to get to their destination. Coronavirus patient #1 in Toronto confirms this as, reportedly, he was ill before he and his wife boarded the flight to Canada.
That is why other international airports have installed thermal scanners and foot disinfectant trays through which all arriving passengers and flight crews must pass, to identify raised temperatures and cleanse contaminated footwear. It’s easily available technology that increases the chances that a virus is not spread.
Why don’t we do the same in Canada?
Laura Groos, West Vancouver
Re: Cutting culinary arts program would be mistake
I would like to add to Stephen von Sychowski’s letter about the importance of expanding the culinary arts program in the high school system. I taught that particular program to Grade 11 and 12 students for seven years. The large majority of those students enjoyed the program working in a professional kitchen producing healthy meals, snacks and desserts. They also worked very hard accomplishing the less-glamorous activities such as cleaning the kitchen and their work stations. It was good preparation for their work habits after graduation.
The students that benefited the most from this program were the students who often fell through the cracks, the students who had problems focusing in regular classes, the ones who had problems sitting still. Turns out, not being able to sit still in class is not a minus in a busy working kitchen. In fact, these type of students often rose to be the top performers in an active work environment. Many of them found part-time employment while still enrolled in school — jobs that sometimes developed into full-time employment after graduation.
And that is ultimately the purpose of our school system — to make it possible for all students to have successful careers after graduation. So many teachers are working hard on making that happen, and the culinary arts program can play a vital role for so many of these students.
Hans Opelka, North Vancouver
Re: BCTF’s plan outed, Vaughn Palmer
Vaughn Palmer’s opinion piece makes it seem as if the B.C. Teachers’ Federation’s intransigence in contract negotiations is all about salaries. What isn’t mentioned are the attempts by the BCTF to renegotiate the contract that was stripped by the B.C. Liberals in 2002. After 16 years of underfunding by the B.C. Liberals, the BCTF was successful in having the Supreme Court of Canada overturn the B.C. Liberal’s legislation.
However, the damage had been done. Class sizes had escalated and non-enrolling teachers, such as teacher-librarians, had largely disappeared or had services reduced in order to meet the underfunded education budget. The NDP government, while making attempts to restore services and bring class sizes down to a workable level, is dragging its feet. After a whole generation of B.C. students have gone through a gutted education system, it’s time for redress. It’s not just about salaries.
Daryl Sturdy, Vancouver
I would like to respond to the commentary by Lise Ravary about Prince Harry. As everyone is entitled to their opinion, I’ll give you mine. I am a British subject, born in London, now a Canadian.
I certainly believe in the importance of the monarchy. However, to state that Harry is “turning his back” on his birthright is completely wrong. He is not first in line to be king … like Edward VIII. He happened to be born into a Royal Family and, using the example of his mother, he wishes to live his own life. As he should. Until you have walked in his shoes, constantly being hounded, your criticism is unwarranted.
Lisa Cooper, North Vancouver
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