Open Letter to Education Minister Patrick Rouble:
Further to my letter of January 5, and recognizing that educational opportunity is a major component of all communities, I am pleased to recommend a possible solution designed to end many of the long-standing problems relating to Watson Lake schools.
Effective solutions to complex problems can very often be realized by simply returning to basics. This approach often results in avoiding waste in time, effort and frustration, particularly at the community level where a piecemeal approach can frequently be futile. With this in mind, I propose the following:
1) That, beginning with the 2009-10 school year, standards relating to the operation and curriculum employed at the time in Whitehorse schools, be applied to and practised as an ongoing standard for all Yukon schools.
2) That issues of a religious, cultural, or other concerns, should first be discussed in public at the community level. If recommendations for specific administrative or policy changes are then desired, a system should be designed to ensure that any such changes receive joint acceptance from parents, through the community and the Yukon Teachers’ Association, before implementation.
In conclusion, I would ask that you and your colleagues give this proposal your closest scrutiny and consideration. If it is accepted in principle, it would not only prove beneficial to our children, but would also put an end to a long-standing irritant, not only in Watson Lake, but possibly in other communities as well.
In this regard, I will be forwarding a copy of this letter to the media and other interested parties to keep the public informed in this matter. In the interim, I would appreciate your e-mailed response.
Donald E. Taylor
Watson Lake