This is in response to Meagan Marsh’s letter: Greater Victoria schools need more counsellors, not police.
I am in total agreement with Coun. Colin Plant. Like him, in my 33-year career as a Saanich school teacher, I have never heard a parent, student, staff member or community member say they didn’t want to see police in schools. The liaison program was an integral part of school life. The student anticipation and success of the school bike rodeos is just one highlight of the work liaison officers did for our schools … at no cost to our school districts.
This comment should not be deeply concerning to Meagan because the majority of the parents, students and staff have no issues with liaison officers in our schools. I do acknowledge that some parents and students may have issues but as a democratic society, we should be respectfully listening to those concerns. After carefully weighing/understanding the issues and risks, we should support the majority and possibly adapt or add to the existing program, but not eliminate or take away from it.
We do not want to ignore the community calls that led to the human rights commissioner’s recommendation in November 2022 but what that commissioner did not do was survey the thousands of parents and children that do not mind liaison officers in schools. Again, it is not unreasonable for school boards to respond to the needs of the community but it is imperative for school boards to make decisions that reflect the majority of views in their district, not their own or those of the minority. Marginalized students and families may need more counsellors but they need other community support programs and restorative justice, as well.
Yes, it was unfair to end the liaison program. Our young people deserve better.
Warren Hamm
Saanich