Letters: Catholic schools should see mistakes as teachable moments
"Hopefully, the Director of Education seizes the opportunities given to him in this 'teaching moment'," writes Karenanne Krofchek.
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In 1970 and in Grade 9 at Miller High, a Catholic high school, it surprised me one day to hear the vice-principal make an announcement regarding “hippies and yippies and long-haired freaks.”
The vice principal’s announcement came from the office that was about 20 feet from a framed painting of Jesus, who is traditionally portrayed having long hair. The conflict seemed quite evident.
As a trans-female student deep in “the closet,” I did my best. The principal’s announcement made me think of Thumper’s mother in Bambi: “Thumper, if you don’t have anything nice to say, then don’t say anything at all.”
For varied reasons I transferred to O’Neill after Grade 10. On my first week there, sitting outside resting against the school on the grass, the principal told me to get off the grass and that it was disrespectful to have a small wooden cross I had fashioned at a Catholic children’s camp I served at during the summer.
I taught numerous youngsters to make theirs using simple small branches from bushes. In fact, one of the priests blessed them all at mass. The next day the principal had me come to the office. He apologized for those things he said to me.
Some years later, I caught up to the vice-principal from Miller. Sharing in a luncheon after a funeral of one of my grade school principals that had given me a strapping, I brought up the “hippies and yippies” comment. He recognized the irony of it all. I felt grateful.
Hopefully, the director of education for Saskatoon Catholic Schools seizes the opportunities given to him in this teaching moment.
Karenanne Joy Krofchek, Regina
We need clean electricity now
The latest UN report on climate change advises us to accelerate climate solutions by funding proven, cost-effective, widely available technologies.
Canada should be leading the way by using 100 per cent clean electricity to power our homes and lifestyles. As such, the federal clean electricity regulations must enable scaling up of wind, solar, energy storage and energy efficiency measures on a massive scale. We have the technology, so let’s do it!
As a mother, scientist and a concerned citizen, I would like my son to have the chance to die from old age rather than climate chaos. Please, do the right thing for your children, grandchildren and generations to come.
Tanya Dahms, Regina
Give ER staff a break
I spent most of Monday, May 22 in the waiting area at the ER at the Pasqua Hospital. I was treated with respect and compassion, even though the staff was extremely busy. I would like to thank everyone for their professionalism.
Unfortunately, some people who were waiting lacked common sense and complained non stop about the wait. There is a limited amount of seating available and yet some people arrived with families, including small children, in tow.
Perhaps a little common sense should be used when visiting the ER and not blaming the wait on the staff.
Edith Pratt, Regina
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