Dear Editor:
Recently, I had an experience that I think needs to be shared with your readers. I witnessed one of our teachers from our POWER Program buying breakfast for a student who seemed to be in need of a proper meal.
It was a stark reminder that too many of our students live in conditions that don't meet their basic needs.
A teacher buying a student breakfast is an impressive story on its own.
What makes this story even more remarkable is that this student, knowledgeable that schools were not in session, still went to her school to seek out her teacher.
For so many of our students, it will always be the adult in the classroom that students turn to when they are in need of help.
The other reason that this story is so compelling is that the teacher, in the midst of a prolonged strike, still bought the student breakfast and offered the student a compassionate ear.
My reason for writing this letter is not to add one more voice to what seems like an overcrowded debate regarding the current labour impasse.
I think I wrote this letter to remind everybody how fortunate we are in New Westminster to have the quality of teachers that will always put the needs of students first and to remind myself that I am very fortunate to be able to work with such amazing teacher colleagues.
John Gaiptman, superintendent of schools, School District No. 40 (New Westminster)
