LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Bullying is not normal

I was appalled to read that the principal at Pierrefonds Comprehensive High School considers bullying a “normal” occurrence, (‘Mom says school failed to protect bullied daughter,’ The Chronicle, June 13). If this is a normal occurrence then the authorities in this high school is condoning this behaviour. I can’t believe that they are asking a child to help them protect her. This is a very passive behaviour from someone in authority. Police do not ask for the names of thieves to protect the public. They help us by educating us, and making their presence known. Bullying is an aggressive behaviour that often leads to violence; this often becomes a major social issue when the bully grows into a violent offender. Maybe society is to be blame if bullying is considered a normal occurrence by school authority.

Josie Buluran

Dorval

Deal with school violence

After reading the article regarding the girl who was being bullied at Pierrefonds Comprehensive High School, I was appalled by some of the statements issued by principal Cecil Humphries . He says, “It’s a shame that the parents feel they have to go to the media to deal with conflict, which is a natural occurrence”.

When is it ever a natural occurrence for a gang of teenagers to beat up on anyone other than in self-defense?

It seemed apparent that the school knew who the offenders were, so why was the girl expected to come forward with information in order to get the help and support that she obviously needed? This type of inaction by the school allows these kinds of attacks to escalate to the point of violence.

Granted, stories often have some of the facts slightly convoluted, but whatever the facts are, one fact remains and that is that attacks on anyone of any age, particularly in a school environment should be dealt with severely.

In the case of school violence, suspension should be imposed immediately and intensive counselling should be ordered before re-admittance. The counselling needs to apply to the parents of these kids as well. We as parents need to prevent this de-sensitization of our kids towards other human beings. Tolerance begins in the home.

Barbara Kordas

Pointe Claire



Lots of positive at PCHS

I am disappointed to see The Chronicle jump at the chance to once again print trash about a school without verifying the story. PCHS does not have a gang problem and that could have been verified by talking to the local police. In addition, I have one child graduating next year and another child going into Grade 10 and there have never been any incidents of bullying or harassment of any kind. It has been the same for many others whose children have graduated and those who are still attending.

I believe that PCHS is one of the best schools on the West Island because of the caring and attentiveness of the staff and administration. Please approach the school about the countless sports teams that exist in our school initiated all by teachers. That’s the real story about PCHS: a school dedicated to making the learning experience there a truly positive one as it has been for my children.

Phyllis Orofino

Ile Bizard



Suburbia green

One can tell when spring has arrived by the beginning of the annual fight for achieving the perfect lawn. Work has begun earnestly to get rid of the white grub problem, also known as the June beetle. Let’s face it, we have created the perfect environment for these insects by creating vast mono-cultural landscapes. In nature, mono-culture does not work. There must be diversity so various species can interact and can support each other in their survival. Planting alien, high-maintenance, shallow-rooted vegetation does not help the situation. The soil needs plants that have deep penetrating roots, thus providing proper ventilation and nutrient circulation.

One should not forget the enormous environmental cost of this kind of landscaping. All the watering, cutting and force-feeding takes a toll on the natural world. By removing grass clippings and replacing them with synthetic fertilizer we are taking away the crucial nutrients from the soil. The microorganisms that are essential to a healthy soil cannot survive on petrol chemical byproducts which fertilizers are made of. They need the natural, slowly decomposing vegetation. In effect, we are putting the lawn on life support. Furthermore, with this practice we are creating an extra burden on already over flowing landfill sights. To make the situation even worse we operate an array of highly inefficient, polluting machinery to beat nature in to obedience.

And, what about us? Can we have a quiet and peaceful weekend before the summer is over and leaf-blower madness begins? Let’s cross our fingers!

Isvan Tihanyi

Pointe Claire



Ward is wrong

Re: Comparing kids to eggs (Letters to the Editor, The Chronicle, May 9)

Pierrefonds/Roxboro city councillor Bert Ward wrote that I have insinuated that Mrs. Worth lacks humanity, but what I really wrote was the following. ‘Is it possible that our elected officials lack so much humanity that they don’t seem to care about the childrens’ welfare.’

Yes, Mr. Ward, you are right when stating that the project was approved by the proper channels. However, you did not say that because of intense citizen intervention, the project was reduced from 650 units to 251 units. Also, you did not mention that you do not intend to follow the most important recommendations of the Conseil du Patrimoine as to the protection of the Nature Park. In effect, you will be doing the exact opposite, meaning that you will be building the project first and looking at the park later.

Yes, it is a jewel of a project once modified, but it should be built elsewhere and not on a floodplain peninsula. In 2003, the Park Service of Montreal had evaluated and published that this peninsula had the vocation of a regional park.

You also wrote that ‘a playground and green space will be located close by.’ I wonder, Mr. Ward, if you would send your young grandchildren to play in the water on the riverbank in the future flooded park at the end of the bicycle path near Roxboro. This flooded and junk-filled land that you are preparing to expropriate for the sum of $650,000 with our tax money was evaluated at only $99,800 a few months ago.

Last week, the Public Consultation Office of Montreal was in Pierrefonds for the first time to receive the citizens’ opinions as to your future plans for Pierrefonds. Most citizens do not know that they could end up with a 10- to 16-storey tower in front of their homes. This office will issue their recommendations afterwards and we know that you do not have to follow them. However, I am sure that once again you will use their name to legitimize your decisions as you have done in the past.

Carmen Laroche Vrana

Pierrefonds



Kids help, pols helpless

My hat goes off to the students and staff of Ecole primaire Jonathan-Wilson in Ile Bizard. One recent Thursday they spent the morning, green sack in hand, gathering old paint cans, plastic sacks, and other garbage which our wasteful consumer society had thrown on empty lots near one of the entrances to Ile Bizard Nature Park.

That was action rather than empty words!

I find it ironic that while our elementary-school children are doing something for the environment, our Prime Minister Stephen Harper is ignoring the Kyoto Accord and trying to get special treatment for Canada — one of the wealthiest countries on the planet. I don’t expect much except foot-dragging and weasel words from our prime minister at the G-8 Summit. He should take a lesson from the aforementioned school.

George Boutilier

Pierrefonds



Ombudsman

a gift to public

As one of the four retired teachers who joined the 50 or so active teachers at the Pearson school board meeting on May 28, permit me to link the cyber-misconduct story involving some St. Thomas High School students, with the recent news that the Commission Scolaire de Montreal will be hiring an ombudsman.

The cyber bullying of teachers by students is a relatively new phenomenon. Because of a lack of clear rules and laws on this matter, it is understandable that a crisis of values and a question of moral rights would come into play. Some people are claiming free-speech rights. Others are saying it is a criminal matter — and so on. In any case, this is where an ombudsman comes in.

Many schools and school boards around the world have an office of the ombudsman, whose job primarily is to listen to those in the community, who cry out: “It’s not fair.”

Some school boards have a fairness committee. In many U.S. states, the position is known as the office of the child advocate.

In B.C., the ombudsman can be contacted directly by students themselves — even anonymously. Teachers can act on behalf of a student or parent. The focus of any investigation is “not to find fault but to determine fair process.”

Access to a school board ombudsman ensures fair treatment for all, curbs abuse of power, relieves a lot of unhealthy stress, and often avoids the cost of lawyers.

Recently, a school ombudsman in Ohio said: “It takes a self-confident school board to establish an ombudsman’s office. It shows a willingness to undergo self-criticism or assessment.”

The Commission Scolaire de Montreal is prepared to pay an annual salary of $100,000 for an ombudsman.

An ombudsman is a gift to the public — at twice the price.

Chris Eustace

Pierrefondsd