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It was certainly a Kodak moment. Heritage Minister James Moore with Ottawa Councillor Allan Hubley (who lost his 15-year old gay son Jamie, to suicide due in part to bullying) announcing a brand new federally-assisted peer-led program to combat bullying in our schools. Laureen Harper wipes a tear from her eye. After all, what parent, indeed what human being, could fail to sympathize with a parent whose child has taken his own life?
But quite frankly, this is not really the Heritage Minister's jurisdiction. Education at all levels is a provincial responsibility. Municipalities are responsible to the provinces too. And given that Heritage Canada apparently has too few resources as it is and is blithely cutting funding to programs that clearly DO fall under its jurisdiction - for example, the National Archival Development Program or the other programs and staff over at Library and Archives Canada - what's it doing brandishing money and meddling in the affairs of the provincial education systems, the Red Cross, and other community groups? When folks have the nerve to protest cutbacks to Library and Archives, or to federal museums, for example, Moore continually trots out the "arm's length" argument. But he's certainly quick to step into the spotlight when there's an opportunity to polish the Government's image and tug on the public's heartstrings!
I also question whether the much-vaunted peer-to-peer aspect of this anti-bullying initiative is going to be particularly effective. After all, most of the bullying that goes on in schools these days is by peers. Doesn't this amount to hiring the fox to guard the hen-house? Seems to me it would be better to have concerned adults running the program - current or retired teachers, parents, and members of the broader community, including some young adults - perhaps university students or recent graduates who have gone through the same thing recently and lived to tell the tale!
But quite frankly, this is not really the Heritage Minister's jurisdiction. Education at all levels is a provincial responsibility. Municipalities are responsible to the provinces too. And given that Heritage Canada apparently has too few resources as it is and is blithely cutting funding to programs that clearly DO fall under its jurisdiction - for example, the National Archival Development Program or the other programs and staff over at Library and Archives Canada - what's it doing brandishing money and meddling in the affairs of the provincial education systems, the Red Cross, and other community groups? When folks have the nerve to protest cutbacks to Library and Archives, or to federal museums, for example, Moore continually trots out the "arm's length" argument. But he's certainly quick to step into the spotlight when there's an opportunity to polish the Government's image and tug on the public's heartstrings!
I also question whether the much-vaunted peer-to-peer aspect of this anti-bullying initiative is going to be particularly effective. After all, most of the bullying that goes on in schools these days is by peers. Doesn't this amount to hiring the fox to guard the hen-house? Seems to me it would be better to have concerned adults running the program - current or retired teachers, parents, and members of the broader community, including some young adults - perhaps university students or recent graduates who have gone through the same thing recently and lived to tell the tale!
