24 2017 ELECTION PREVIEW


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MHCBE TRUSTEE CANDIDATE QUESTIONS


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The character of Catholic education has come under sharp criticism in recent months from other publicly funded school boards. If Catholic education is eventually excluded from funding for non-Catholic students, how would you as a trustee respond to that challenge?


What is the right balance, in your opinion, between providing faith-based teaching in schools and meeting the curricula needs of basic, public education?


While the current NDP government has provided some funding for lunch and nutrition programs in schools, if there is a change in provincial governments in your term as trustee, and that funding is cancelled, should the Medicine Hat Catholic Board of Education absorb the cost and continue these programs in local schools?


Bonnie Stafford-Mayer


1 I believe that parents should have the right to choose which school system their child


attends. If they feel that the Catholic school system best suits their needs, they should be welcomed. They should do so with the knowledge that Catholic education is based on the foundations of the Catholic church with its traditions, beliefs and values. Priority for admittance should be given to students and families of the Catholic faith. In light of the recent events, perhaps this is a timely opportunity to closer evaluate the qualities of a Catholic school and endeavour to ensure that our Catholic schools are consistent in their standards and practices. Should challenges continue to arise, I feel that Catholic schools would be best able to defend themselves if they have a unified voice supported by our diverse, cohesive and respectful families.


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I believe it is important for Catholic schools to provide the highest levels of education, with the foundation of the Catholic faith. Students, upon completion of their studies, should feel confident that they have obtained the necessary tools to be successful, productive members of society. If they pursue post graduate education, they must be able to compete with any other student. Catholic educators have the unique task of teaching the current curriculum though the eyes of the Catholic church. This is an incredible responsibility. They need to be provided with enough support to achieve this goal.


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If the funding for the nutrition program ceases, I do not feel that it is the responsibility of the MHCBE to absorb the costs of these programs to continue. As a parent, I strongly believe in proper nutrition for healthy minds and bodies. Ideally, it would be great to feed each of our students. Without funding, I feel this is not sustainable. Fortunately, there are many breakfast and lunch programs that currently run in our schools by volunteers. Perhaps schools could, on an individual needs basis, arrange for some form of discount or subsidy that would allow disadvantaged students to participate in these programs. In addition, there are some programs in our city to assist those in need of proper nutrition. I encourage those who are able, to please volunteer or donate to these worthwhile efforts.


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Jeffrey Neumann


1 I am not prepared to wait until Catholic education is excluded from funding


to address the matter. The Catholic education system is under attack from many corners. As such, the immediate challenge is to focus on defending and championing our constitutionally enshrined publicly funded Catholic education system. This requires unceasing and fearless advocacy in the first instance and if necessary extends to the legal process.


I do not believe it is necessary to strike a balance between faith-based teaching in the Catholic education system and meeting the curricula needs of basic public education. These two concepts are not mutually exclusive. Our Catholic faith permeates all aspects of the education experience and gives meaningful context to the subject matters which students learn. Students in the Catholic system can excel academically, socially and spiritually.


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It is a basic parental obligation to provide one's children with the necessaries of life. It is not appropriate that this responsibility be abdicated by parents and off-loaded to the schools. However, in those situations where students' basic nutritional needs are not being met at home and are not capable of being met at home, for whatever reason, breakfast and lunch programs are vitally important to students' well- being and ability to learn. I am in favour of existing programs continuing and being adjusted to best target students in need. In a world where government funding is no longer in place, this would mean pulling resources away from other areas which would require difficult choices to be made.


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