New Brunswick Green Party
“It’s all about the next generation” and “Getting to a sustainable future” are phrases which basically define the corner stone on which the New Brunswick Green Party is built. It doesn’t take long to discover that there are no easy or quick fixes to decades of various Government decisions in which the next election was the major influence. Although this kind of decision making has adversely affected all aspects of life in New Brunswick, our education system is one of the most negatively affected.
How can our children develop their potential in whatever area their gifts and talents lie and become contributors to making our province a rewarding place to live and work if they are not provided with the atmosphere and training to achieve this goal? Why do our high schools graduate students who are functionally illiterate? Why do many students require a calculator to do simple math? The underlying reason is not hard to see. For way too long we have had Governments who are much more concerned with money (and getting re-elected) then they have been with the quality of education our children receive.
The inability to read with comprehension adversely affects every aspect of one’s life. Whether one is examining a food package label or trying to solve a complex scientific problem, they need to be able to comprehend what they are reading. How can one learn to read if they are not taught spelling or phonics? There is more to the language than four letter words. How can one understand a complex situation if all one gets is a ten second sound bite on a news cast? The inability to read with comprehension creates a society whereby a few are able to control the masses. It creates a society of fear and superstition where one has to accept the word of another because they do not have the ability to research the topic for themselves.
As stated earlier, the mess that our education system is in cannot be easily corrected overnight. The New Brunswick Green Party would work toward seeing that; (1)teachers receive the necessary training and resources to properly teach all students (2)input is solicited from teachers in the development and implementation of educational policies (3)trades and other skills-based curricula are restored in middle and high schools (4) civic education is included in the curriculum so that students can become more aware of and involved in the process and decision making concerning political decisions at all levels of government (5)opportunities are available for experiential learning through apprenticeships, co-op placement, Canada World Youth, etc. (6)school based arts programs are expanded (7) healthy, active lifestyles are promoted through everything from the hot lunch program to things like environmental citizenship and outdoor education. Although this is not an exhaustive list, it gives one an idea of the direction we feel our education system must go if current and future generations are to become healthy productive members of society.
The cost of post-secondary education is steadily raising and is beyond the reach of many, unless they want to spend a lifetime in debt. Again there is no simple answer, but the Green Party would help alleviate the pressure by (1) making all provincial student loans, including outstanding loans, interest free (2) developing a program whereby post-secondary graduates could have their student loans forgiven if they choose to work for a set period of time at a community service job in return for a minimum stipend.
Wayne Sabine
New Brunswick Green Party
Victoria Tobique Riding Association President
