Editor:
Thank you Tulani and Paula,
I read about your work in the Coast Reporter in an article by Keili Bartlett and I am very impressed with what you have done. In standing firm on use of cell phones you have given your students a wonderful gift. Not only will they see each other and talk face to face, they will learn more and by working and playing together grow in compassion and understanding of one another. Play is very important in learning not only for infants and young children but also for those older, including adults.
When I started teaching, our work was deadened not by cellphones but by our methods. We had teacher dominated classrooms with silent students in desks facing each other’s backs. We failed many students, sometimes more than once. Gangs formed leading to acts of cruelty.
Then I experienced a transformation. Through working with other educators, we created an activity-based program for 150 children aged four to nine in a Vancouver school. As the children learned by working and playing together, we noticed that they gained great respect for one another. Of course, they sometimes argued but there was no bullying and altercations were readily resolved.
After I retired, I wrote about the school and the considerable changes we had made. I invite you to visit www.honouringthechild.com.
I applaud your efforts and decision to change. May many others follow suit. I thank you on behalf of us all.
Pamela Proctor, Gibsons
