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Letter: Teachers are like first responders & should put interests of children first

The Editor, I fully support B.C. Provincial Health Officer Dr. Bonnie Henry when she says the risk of not sending the kids to school is far greater than that posed by a potential spread of the virus that causes COVID-19.
A empty classroom is pictured at Eric Hamber Secondary school in Vancouver, B.C. Monday, March 23,
A empty classroom is pictured at Eric Hamber Secondary school in Vancouver, B.C. Monday, March 23, 2020. Dr. Henry says the provincial government has worked in collaboration with school districts, teachers, administrators and parents groups to produce a framework that allows them to have confidence in the safety of students and staff.

The Editor,

I fully support B.C. Provincial Health Officer Dr. Bonnie Henry when she says the risk of not sending the kids to school is far greater than that posed by a potential spread of the virus that causes COVID-19. 

British Columbia, along with every other province, spends more on education than any other department, except health. This clearly demonstrates the importance of the education system in a modern society. I would argue that this fact means that there exists a social contract between educators and citizens that qualifies teachers as being first responders in the same way as our health care professionals. 

Teachers often say that the interests of the children are paramount and now its time to fulfill that promise and work hard to get schools open before any further damage is inflicted upon our future generations.

Bob Elliott, Port Coquitlam