Teachers work more than you might think
Re: “After pandemic, keep school open all year,” April 29.
When I read this letter I tried to resist responding. I really did. But I just couldn’t do it.
I am a recently retired teacher of almost 40 years. Most of my friends and family are also teachers. I continue to be astounded by some people’s attitudes about the work that teachers do. The writer comments that, if schools were year-round, “teachers would actually work a full year, just like the rest of us.”
The attitude that teachers work 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. with summers off is ignorant and disgraceful. Teachers don’t stop working at 3 and they don’t stop working in June. Anyone who knows a teacher knows this to be true. Teachers prepare, outline, mark, cut, paste, plan, late into the night after their own children go to bed. They work on weekends preparing for the following week. They work in the summer, taking courses and preparing for the year ahead.
Ask a teacher to calculate the hours they put into their work. You might be shocked.
During this pandemic, teachers are working tirelessly to continue education for their students as best they can. They are working the same number of hours as before or more. Some of them are working at home while trying to care for their own children. Year-round schooling is certainly an idea to explore. But let’s do it without slagging teachers.
Kathryn Sihota
Victoria
Unfairly cut off from COVID-19 benefit
The recent announcement by Shane Simpson, minister of Social Development and Poverty Reduction — that low-income seniors receiving the B.C. Senior’s Supplement will get a COVID-19 benefit of $300 for three months — was misleading and deliberately evasive.
The brutal truth is that thousands of B.C. seniors living precipitously below the poverty line, whose need for this financial relief is equally urgent and warranted, will not see one penny from our provincial NDP government.
I was bluntly informed by a ministry official that I did not qualify for Simpson’s benefit. It doesn't matter that I am a senior barely subsisting on a below-poverty-level OAS/GIS pension with no extra money for proper food, nevermind any COVID-19-related expenses. Clearly I am just not poor enough for Shane Simpson.
The B.C. Senior’s Supplement is an outdated and inadequate measure of poverty, where a mere $100 extra per month will void it. A senior can still be living in extreme poverty and be cut off the supplement.
Designating receipt of this supplement as the COVID-19 benefit litmus test is a cost-saving measure, since that automatically disqualifies thousands of low-income B.C. seniors who also need the money to stay well during this global health crisis.
After the pandemic is over, our political leaders will be judged for how they treated the most vulnerable. The Guaranteed Income Supplement is the universally accepted low-income standard. Any senior receiving the GIS should automatically be getting Shane Simpson’s COVID-19 benefit.
Doreen Marion Gee
Victoria
Amid crisis, elderly are most vulnerable
During this COVID-19 crisis, the most vulnerable have proven to be the elderly, whether they be in nursing homes or living at home. Statistics prove this to be true.
More and more we are hearing that the homeless are the most vulnerable during this epidemic.
One thing is for sure, they are receiving the most help. Free housing, free meals, free drugs and free what have you. There are certainly some of these homeless who require what they are being given.
Many, however, are people who just prefer this lifestyle.
We have enough groups looking after the homeless here in Victoria, but frankly the situation has just gotten worse and worse.
This “give them everything approach” is just not working and it is costing taxpayers more and more.
Bob Beckwith
Victoria
We can eliminate homelessness
The citizens of Canada have the ability to work together to solve the issue of homelessness in this country. The indisputable root causes of homelessness are mental illness and addiction.
Using our tax dollars to implement effective programs and open the necessary facilities to care for this segment of society is entirely within our reach.
This requires a comprehensive network of facilities and social workers to diagnose, monitor and assist the people who need this attention, from birth to death.
Anyone who refuses to support this system of dealing with and eliminating homelessness cannot complain about tent cities or escalating crime. And if they continue to refuse, the taxes required to pay for police and prisons will escalate far more than if these essential social services were set up now.
As responsible and proactive citizens, we must unite to inform our local, provincial, and federal political leaders that we demand this solution. Write, and keep writing. Persevere. Vote only for those who will expedite this solution now. Don’t give up. It’s for your own sake and everyone else’s. We can establish a safe and fair society for all.
C.J. Paterson
Victoria
Who enforces pedestrian-only rule?
Who is responsible for ensuring that the pedestrian walkway on the south side of the Johnson Street Bridge is not used by people with wheeled transportation (bicycles, skateboards, scooters, roller skates, etc.)?
Over the last several months there has been a noticeable increase in the number of people ignoring the pedestrian signs at each end of the bridge.
I walk across the bridge at least twice a day and probably 20 per cent of the time I encounter people on wheels. In addition to keeping our social distance from other pedestrians, now we also have to be mindful of people on wheels weaving in and out around people.
The first time that I asked a person to walk their wheels the response was not printable. The second time I asked a person, I was simply ignored (still better than the first response).
The pedestrian side is clearly marked at both ends. The north side is readily available to those who wish to use their wheels for transport over the bridge. But who is responsible for enforcing this?
Michael Shepherd
Victoria
One correction to thoughtful tribute
Re: “ ‘Last man standing’ from Dieppe raid dies at 97,” April 23.
A very nice and thoughtful tribute by Jack Knox about the passing of the Royal Hamilton Light Infantry’s last surviving member to have fought at Dieppe on Aug. 19, 1942.
I do want to offer one correction. The column states that the German defenders at Dieppe were “crack SS and tank regiments.” In fact, there were no SS troops at Dieppe and the nearest tanks were those of 10th Panzer Division stationed at Amiens.
This division did not deploy toward Dieppe before the raid was crushed. The raid was instead met by the coastal defence force of 302nd Infantry Division — a well-trained and capable unit in itself.
Ken Curry was more than correct in his assertion that the raid was “a fiasco” that achieved nothing of import. The bravery and sacrifice of the Canadians and other Allies that fought there, however, should always be remembered and honoured.
Mark Zuehlke
Author of Tragedy at Dieppe: Operation Jubilee, August 19, 1942.
Victoria
Saanich still muddled about amalgamation
Re: “Amalgamation study survives bewildering Saanich debate,” comment, April 22.
What is it about our Saanich mayors? Do they lose their rational and logical thought process when the word “amalgamation” comes up?
Back in 2014, there was a referendum question on Saanich municipal election ballots.
Rather than something like “are you in favour of amalgamation,” which would give the public sentiment, or even watered-down version, “are you in favour of starting a study into amalgamation options,” it ended up being: “Do you support council initiating a community-based review of governance structures and policies with Saanich and our partnerships within the region?
It was so convoluted that I’m sure a majority of voters did not know what they were voting for or against. Frank Leonard lost my vote.
Now in 2020, six years later, with no progress being made, Saanich Mayor Fred Haynes, is so confused about it all, he ends up voting against his own proposal. Wow.
My vote will be against his future proposal too — his proposal to get re-elected.
Mark Taylor
Saanich
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