The program was MC'd by Pearl Tsang who is always a delight to share an evening with. Mayor Nenshi attended and shook hands with guests and students. Doug Mitchell, a proud CBE graduate shared his passion and appreciation for public education; a truly sincere example of all of the things that go right with public education. What moved me so deeply were the students. I had a fantastically interesting conversation with a grade 12 student Ambassador sitting next to me at dinner. This young man moved to Calgary in Grade 9, his parents wanted him and his brother to get a better education than what they felt he could get in London, England. He was ahead a grade level when he arrived and boy has he make the most of it!
I cannot list all of the things that this young man is involved with today but let me try to recap a few; taking IB classes, on Grad committee, started a volunteer 'club' at his school to work with the homeless population, involved with a leadership group and the list truly went on and on. He was grateful, indeed gleeful at the many privileges (his words) that public school has afforded him and felt that he owed it to Calgarians to give back.
Another moment that had me and many others in the audience tearful was when guest student speaker, Cheyanne Lepka, spoke of her journey through public education. She described herself as having what many saw as the 'disadvantages' being a visible minority and the daughter of a single Mom who worked very hard to provide for her kids. Cheyanne told a moving story of teachers who took the time to understand her learning needs, a very bright young girl who would appear to be falling behind but was in fact bored and not being challenged enough in class. She spoke of teachers who let her work a grade level ahead and encouraged her to challenge both herself and a system that sometimes made it difficult to work outside of the boundaries. Her teachers at Lord Beaverbrook High School helped her publish a book. Did you know that Lord Beaverbrook has a publishing company! Wow! She shared a passage from her book and is a remarkably talented young woman. Cheyanne was moved to tears as she thanked Education Matters (and her teachers) for the scholarships that helped her get to University where she is studying archaeology and biology.
Throughout the evening we watched videos of unique programs that are taking place throughout various schools in Calgary. Amazing programs for students with disabilities that give them an opportunity to communicate through movement or computers when they cannot speak and programs that foster a love and appreciation for the arts.
Does this negate all of the concerns that parents have about overcrowded classrooms and underfunded schools? Of course not. BUT it reminded me, as I have forgotten far too often that public education DOES work and is meant to give us all the opportunities that the above mentioned students had. At times I think that we nit pick at things and lose sight of the fact that we want our students to do well, we chose this so that they have every opportunity to get the education that they need most to make them the best human beings possible.
It is healthy and necessary for the success of public education that as community members, parents and students we continue to ask wise questions, stay involved and yes even be critical at times but we must do so with an understanding that the administrators, parents and educators are not in this to create a worse system but to create a better system where we hear more stories like the ones told at this celebration.
Congratualtions to these students and we wish you continued success!
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