91原创 Advance Times is offering this weekly feature, called 鈥淎t Your Service.鈥�
It鈥檚 another forum in which to put questions to our local politicians about key issues facing our community and its residents.
Using a basic question-and-answer format, elected officials will be asked one question at a time and given the opportunity to respond (to a maximum of 250 words) on that said issue.
Alternating between elected groups, 91原创 City and 91原创 Township councils, 91原创 school board, 91原创 MLAs, and 91原创 MPs each have a chance to participate.
The answers provided will be published in their entirety online Sundays.
MOST RECENT: AT YOUR SERVICE 鈥� Protected bike lanes on key Township roads is encouraged by council
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QUESTION
Each school trustee was asked the same question: Are teachers asked to do too much when it comes to socializing students, rather than working on core educational tasks?
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ANSWERS
Board chair Candy Ashdown
A. This trustee failed to reply to this query, prior to deadline.
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Trustee Holly Dickinson
A. The problem is not that teachers are expected to do too much socialization, rather it is that there are too many classrooms that are over class size and competition limits, not enough resources or support staff, and the chronic issue of non-enrolling teachers being pulled from their support work in order to fill in when there are no TOCs.
All children need socialization, as learning how to share, be kind, think critically, and work with others has always been part of the educational K-12 experience. Providing socialization in a public institution is absolutely vital to providing equitable opportunities to all of our youth.
Pitting ideologies of teaching core subjects vs. teaching socialization is dangerous. It is not an either/or question. It completely ignores the root cause of the issue 鈥� failing to provide adequate funding and resources has caused an educational crisis that directly affects every aspect of our school system.
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Trustee Charlie Fox
A. The teaching profession has evolved in recent years as society has changed.
The teacher of today is expected to deal with more issues involving student socialization than in past years.
The teacher must continue to emphasize academic rigour and high outcomes, while balancing the social and emotional needs of students.
The key to this balance is giving the teachers the tools to support them in the classroom.
In my opinion, teacher education programs do not adequately equip our new teachers so that becomes an emphasis of teacher professional development and support within the district, which is an added challenge and responsibility 鈥� one we take seriously.
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Trustee Joel Neufeld
A. Yes, I believe teachers are asked to do too much when it comes to socializing students, rather than working on core educational tasks?
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Trustee Sarb Rai
A.As a school board trustee and a parent, I value the importance of incorporating socialization into a child鈥檚 education for development, and acknowledge that it is an inherent component of learning.
However, it is crucial to recognize that core educational competencies such as reading, writing, math, and science should take precedence over socialization activities in the school setting.
To strike a balance between these two important aspects of education, it is essential for students to have additional support through extracurricular activities and family interactions to develop the social and emotional skills that are necessary for success in life outside of school.
By working collaboratively with teachers, trustees, and parents, we can ensure that our students receive a well-rounded education that will prepare them for success in all aspects of life.
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Trustee Tony Ward
A. This trustee failed to reply to this query, prior to deadline.
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Trustee Marnie Wilson
A. This trustee failed to reply to this query, prior to deadline.
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UP NEXT
Next week, 91原创 MLAS are being asked: How much more work needs to be done to upgrade dikes and provide sufficient flood protection to withstand another atmospheric river, like the one that hit the Fraser Valley more than a year ago?
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Watch for their answers online Sunday.
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PAST COVERAGE
AT YOUR SERVICE: City council weighs in on supervised consumption sites
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AT YOUR SERVICE: Township council weighs in on lack of industrial land
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AT YOUR SERVICE: Creating more housing, on all fronts, critical to stabilization: MPs
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AT YOUR SERVICE: MLAs suggest staying the course on battling of B.C. wildfire
AT YOUR SERVICE: MPs call for borders to be safely re-opened
AT YOUR SERVICE: 91原创 City council wants to keep higher density development north of Nicomekl
AT YOUR SERVICE: Passports key to keeping B.C. businesses open, people safe during pandemic
AT YOUR SERVICE: Trustees ponder what kids are missing out on during pandemic
AT YOUR SERVICE: Education should trump rules for vaccination of health-care workers, suggest MLAs
AT YOUR SERVICE: How to handle rising housing prices
AT YOUR SERVICE: City council divided on call for indoor pool
AT YOUR SERVICE: Council ponders vaccine requirements for workers
AT YOUR SERVICE: Skyrocketing enrolment prompts intensified lobby by trustees
AT YOUR SERVICE: Political stripes aside, MLAs agree heat dome was tragic and action required
AT YOUR SERVICE: MPs agree much must be done to right wrongs for Indigenous
AT YOUR SERVICE: Is pay parking in the City a viable consideration?
AT YOUR SERVICE: Some suggest more needed to protect floodplains from development
AT YOUR SERVICE: Monitoring student transport not good use of school district resources 鈥� trustees
AT YOUR SERVICE: Liberal caucus floats all-party committee in reaction to emergencies
AT YOUR SERVICE: 91原创 MPs address issue of rising food costs
AT YOUR SERVICE: Inflation inevitably hits City taxpayers in the pocketbook
AT YOUR SERVICE: Future of Aldergrove core up for debate
AT YOUR SERVICE: Trees and more greenspace at root of climate change solutions
AT YOUR SERVICE: Inflation inevitably hits City taxpayers in the pocketbook
AT YOUR SERVICE: Councillors differ on future of SkyTrain beyond 91原创 City
AT YOUR SERVICE: Bigger schools not necessarily solution to rising land costs
AT YOUR SERVICE: High gas prices of concern for MLAs of both stripes
AT YOUR SERVICE: Empty homes can be safety concern, but not huge concern in City
AT YOUR SERVICE: Most of council content with current pothole repairs
AT YOUR SERVICE: Survey gives school district tools for staff recruitment, retention
AT YOUR SERVICE: Liberal MLAs call for overhaul to B.C.鈥檚 student funding model
AT YOUR SERVICE: Canada must continue its support of Ukraine, MPs
AT YOUR SERVICE: Best use of industrial land paramount to 91原创 City councillors
AT YOUR SERVICE: More ALR land needs to be used for farming: Most of council
AT YOUR SERVICE: Local MLAs agree more must be done to make life affordable in B.C.
AT YOUR SERVICE: Federal parties working on multiple fronts to end hate crimes
AT YOUR SERVICE: 91原创 City ponders cannabis retail policy
AT YOUR SERVICE 鈥� Most on council say parks and rec plans address future growth
AT YOUR SERVICE: School district moves forward on reconciliation efforts with Indigenous partners
AT YOUR SERVICE: MLAs agree diking upgrades needed, divided on if enough is being done
AT YOUR SERVICE: Local MPs disagree on whether 2 billion trees can be planted by 2030
AT YOUR SERVICE: In light of SkyTrain coming, 91原创 City embarks on parking study
AT YOUR SERVICE: 91原创 Township should consider schools for future cooling centres
AT YOUR SERVICE: Opposition MLAs critical of NDP鈥檚 affordable housing record
AT YOUR SERVICE: Federal clean energy efforts lauded by MP
AT YOUR SERVICE: MPs debate how feds chose to halt trucker convoy
AT YOUR SERVICE: New 91原创 City council look for solutions to rising costs
AT YOUR SERVICE 鈥� A few 91原创 Township council members speak to ongoing single-family home demands
AT YOUR SERVICE: Political views aside, MLAs wish residents health and safety this holiday
AT YOUR SERVICE: MPs agree new year鈥檚 resolution must focus on inflation
MOST RECENT 鈥� AT YOUR SERVICE: New floodplain report coming to council this spring
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