A Nova Scotia centre for schooling has issued a directive permitting solely Canada and Nova Scotia flags to fly exterior South Shore faculties — a transfer the provincial lecturers union calls regarding and complicated.
Peter Day, head of the Nova Scotia Lecturers Union, stated lots of his members informed him over the weekend they’re upset that flags representing Mi’kmaq, African Nova Scotian, LGBTQ+ and different communities have been ordered taken down.
“The lecturers which have reached out, they’re fairly upset as a result of they perceive how essential symbols are in our college for our children. And when these symbols are taken down, the children can really feel remoted and susceptible,” Day stated an interview Monday.
The South Shore Regional Centre for Training, which represents 23 English-language elementary, center and excessive faculties, stated in a press release that flags that aren’t of Canada or Nova Scotia will likely be taken off flagpoles and displayed inside the colleges. It issued the directive to its faculties on Friday.
“This can be a regional determination made to make sure that the flags are higher cared for and protected against injury,” centre spokesperson Ashley Gallant stated in an emailed assertion.
Various flags in lobby, gymnasium or cafeteria
She stated flags representing numerous communities will likely be displayed in high-visibility areas like a college’s lobby, gymnasium or cafeteria.
Day stated that whereas it is nice to have symbols celebrating Nova Scotia’s numerous scholar inhabitants inside faculties, flags ought to be displayed exterior for all to see.
“Whether or not it’s our Mi’kmaq college students, our African Nova Scotian college students, or Acadian college students, Gaelic college students, or 2SLGBTQ+ college students, all college students ought to get to see themselves represented within the college neighborhood they’re in as they’re strolling as much as the varsity doorways,” Day stated.
Nevertheless, Gallant stated that too usually, flags flying exterior faculties get ripped or broken in different methods, including that the centre for schooling has obtained complaints from the neighborhood concerning the poor state of college flags.
“Moreover, sustaining a number of flags is kind of time-consuming and expensive,” she stated.
Gallant didn’t instantly reply to a query about the price of changing flags.
Union hopes for assembly with province
Day stated he agrees it is essential that the flags flown in entrance of colleges are in good situation, and emphasised that “nobody ever desires to see a tattered Canadian flag.”
“We are able to unite across the nationwide flag and in addition proceed to have a good time our variety. These two concepts aren’t mutually unique. We could be very proud Canadians flying the Canada flag and on the similar time present our acceptance and welcome all communities into our faculties,” he stated.
The union chief stated he hopes to satisfy with the minister of schooling to debate the brand new coverage and see that it’s amended so faculties can proceed to fly a number of flags. Day stated he is hopeful the regional centre reconsiders its determination.
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