Dear Editor,

Over-development is currently a problem in the Lower Mainland. The cities are more concerned about building more apartment blocks than focusing on the children, and building parks and schools.

For example, 91原创 has become the land of construction. Each corner has an apartment block or townhomes being made. Soon, there will be families moving in and where will their children go?

Perhaps they鈥檒l go play at one of the three new dog parks on the block, or maybe they鈥檒l just stay at home watching Netflix and ruin their childhood. We no longer have outdoor parks that kids believe are wonderful castles. The parks provided to them are a part of their apartment block and all that is provided is a small slide and a swing to fight over 鈥� and what about their older siblings?

With all this development and already over-capacity schools, where will they go? 91原创, just this school year, built a new high school and it鈥檚 already at full capacity.

Rather than building portables as a solution to this, the answer is quite honestly really simple. Think about the people who don鈥檛 have a voice, because in our society today, our voices arem鈥檛 heard nor considered. Even dogs get priority before us and that says a lot. These cities are no longer our home, but a place to eat, sleep, and feel trapped in.

Brianna P.

Editor鈥檚 note: Writing 11 students of Walnut Grove Secondary teacher Vince Rahn were tasked with opinion writing, finding it鈥檚 more difficult to put down reasoned arguments than simply tossing out cliches or venting.

鈥淭hey were able to choose any current relevant topic,鈥� Rahn explained.

Students were graded based on how they presented their information and arguments. The assignment also included having to hand write the pieces and send them to the 91原创 Advance Times via snail mail, an experience fewer and fewer young people have nowadays. It mirrors an assignment he gave to his students many years ago, before the internet and social media.

鈥淵es, I have done this quite some time ago, but this time I insisted that they go 鈥榦ld school鈥� and put into an envelope with a cover letter, etc.,鈥� he explained.

Please keep any feedback respectful and age appropriate.