I want to convey to you how powerful this program has been for those involved. One teacher reflected that, “So much of the fun stuff I used to do – themes and special projects – are gone now to make way for progress monitoring, prompt writing for moderated marking, data collection, triangulation. In a year when it feels like all I do is assess, I am ever so thankful for the Christmas Wind.” Projects that encourage our children to think original thoughts, and to imagine, will help them build important skills that will arm them to lead the world in thoughtful and intelligent ways.
I’m a business grad. I understand business practices and budget realities, and yet it feels so short sighted that the arts are always the first to be abandoned in a crisis. This program brought me face-to-face with this in Newfoundland and, truthfully, broke my heart. Listen to the interview CBC Radio did with the Newfoundland Christmas Wind class, and while you do, know that the librarian you’ll hear speaking is one of the casualties of the recent budget slashing there. As you may know, the province is closing 54 of its 95 libraries, and Veronica’s library is one of them. Listen to the students in this interview and think about the hole the closure of this library and access to a program such as this project I’m asking you to vote for, will open.
See below for a picture of the lovely students who took part in the program and an article in The Beacon.
