We’re lucky our kids can learn

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 08/09/2015 (3861 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

I have been back at school the last few days, setting up my class for the upcoming year. Freshly waxed floors, new supplies and teachers with relaxed looks on their faces have got me thinking about a few things.

I am reminded of how lucky we are to live in Canada.

It’s no secret that most of us, current and former students, have at some point taken our free, public education for granted.

We’ve complained about an assignment, that a teacher wasn’t fair, or mumbled (or shouted) “why does this even matter anyways?” Sometimes, we need to be reminded of just how lucky we are.

Last week, the Winnipeg Free Press reported some disturbing figures. Forty per cent of children from five Middle Eastern countries are not attending school. The UN estimates 13.7 million school-age children from Syria, Iraq, Yemen, Libya and Sudan are not in school — this is out of a total of 34 million. Close to 9,000 schools in those countries have been destroyed or closed due to fighting in the region. It also estimates 50,000 teachers in Syria are no longer working.

I teach Grade 11 Canadian history. It’s safe to say Canadian history isn’t everybody’s favourite course (it’s mandatory in Manitoba — needed to graduate). I take great pride in teaching that course.

It can be difficult at times to explain to students in parts of Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, how lucky they are. Just think about all the opportunities they are afforded here that others aren’t.

Imagine the potential that is not being unlocked with 13 million children unable to attend school in those five countries alone, and the multitude of social and economic issues that will be created as a result of an undereducated population. UN workers are also suggesting many of the dead migrants, including the awful sight of a young boy lying face down, dead in the sea, were fleeing their nations in order to find a place where an education can be provided.

Knowledge is power. We have a responsibility as citizens to take advantage of our privileged place in the world. According to the Conference Board of Canada, 85 per cent of working-age Canadians have graduated from high school. In this year’s Forbes magazine “happiest countries” article, Canada ranked sixth in the world. It is no coincidence there is a positive correlation in a given population between happiness and high graduation rates. Education affords not only a multitude of economic opportunities, but on a real, human level, it allows us to grow as a nation.

As a history teacher, I spend a lot of time talking about the relationship between Canada and aboriginal people. I am always amazed at how little many Canadians know about our history, and perhaps more importantly, some of the horrible conditions and racist attitudes that still prevail in parts of our society.

What I can tell you, however, is once a child is given the opportunity to learn about others, in a peaceful and nurturing environment, their perspective of the whole world can change in a heartbeat. Imagine how much greater our country would be if we could achieve parity in high school graduation rates between aboriginal and non-aboriginal students. The more we know about one another, the more we can do to help one another.

I have coached and taught several students from war-affected nations, including Syria, Iran and Iraq. My experience with these children is similar to my experience with many other students: they are eager to discover, uncover and grow. I have witnessed students who grew up in or near refugee camps — where at an early age, odds were stacked against them — graduate from high school, becoming thoughtful and engaged citizens in the process.

I can only imagine how many young people, no different than those I taught, with the exception of their current environments, are being left behind, never given the chance to reach their potential. I sincerely hope that as this refugee crisis unfolds, we can find ways to help these children get the education that as human beings, they have the right to.

To all students, parents, teachers and community members alike: please pause this September to remember how fortunate we are to have the opportunities we do. Be thankful, complain less and use your education to help make the world a better place.

 

Ben Carr teaches Canadian history, social studies and law at Kelvin High School.