Article content
I am a public school educator with 43 years experience in elementary and secondary schools. I have been a secondary school administrator for 25 years and have worked closely with the school liaison officers in all of the schools I have been in charge of. I am writing this letter because I am appalled with the decision by the Vancouver School Board trustees, who voted to end the SLO (School Liaison Officer) program in Vancouver.
The SLO program is important to me because I have seen so many students helped by the SLO’s. Students are able to meet with SLO’s throughout the school day and in confidence that the information is not going to be shared with anyone else. I realize that some students have not always had a good experience with an SLO, but this should not have to result in shutting down the program. Sit down with the SLO and discuss the problem and try and work it out. Not only do SLO’s work with the students during school time, they also volunteer their time before and after school, as coaches or sponsors for different clubs.