Dear Editor,
Re: “We’ll be torn apart,” Letter, Sept. 21.
I am intrigued by the editorial letters printed in the Richmond News recently regarding the closure of some schools.
Parents are complaining of extended distances their children will have to walk to school, potentially crossing a train track or navigate a busy intersection.
To quote a particular letter that encouraged me to respond by a Dixon Elementary parent stating that, “I need the convenience of (my child) being able to walk to school by herself. She will be in Grade 6 next year and there is no way she could walk to Diefenbaker. It is more than 1.6 kms away and involves more than 20 minutes of walking, crossing both busy No. 1 Road and Williams.”
This attitude is absolute self-centered nonsense.
I am a 1995 Steveston High grad who lived in the Blundell and No. 1 Road area during my school years.
As per Google maps my walk to Hugh Boyd was 1.7 kms (approx. 22 mins) my walk (or bike ride) to Steveston High was 3.1 kms (approx. 37 mins.).
I did these journeys every day and, amazingly, I survived. A car ride to school with mom was a rare treat!
I support arguments regarding the quality of education and structural safety of school facilities, however the complaint that a child is suffering because of a longer walk to school is ignorant. While some parents may be “inconvenienced” by commute routes and time, I am “inconvenienced” by my tax dollars being spent on schools that are not viable.
Teach your children to watch out for trains and always check both ways before crossing the street; Good advice for life.
K. Seel
Richmond
(Editor’s Note: In 1995, Hugh Boyd was a junior secondary school for Grades 8-10. Dixon elementary serves Grades K-7.)
