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Speak Up

Since 2006, vandalism has cost School District 17 approximately $100,000 in repairs alone.

That revelation was made last week at a district education council meeting in Oromocto.

It is as troubling and unsettling as it is hard to believe.

"It's a big problem for our district," District 17 Supt. Marilyn Ball said.

"When you really think about the damage being done, it's much more than physical damage. We're spending money on repairs from vandalism that we could be spending on other necessary repairs or redirecting to school programs."

Dollars steered towards repairing damage caused by vandalism is money wasted.

Examples of vandalism within the district are found in broken windows at Hubbard Avenue Elementary and Minto Memorial High schools, graffiti on the outside of school signs and damage to a boiler room and windows at Assiniboine Avenue Elementary School.

At a recent meeting, Tom Barrett, a district education council member, said vandalism is on the rise within our schools and communities.

"In addition to promoting illegal activities, these acts have placed a burden on our school systems and communities that are unnecessary and have a direct effect on the provision of quality education to our students," he said.

This type of behaviour is totally unacceptable.

We applaud the district's announcement that it's moving forward with a plan to fight vandalism in and around its schools, and that it's established a vandalism committee to look at ways of reducing the damage and saving the district money in repairs.

We believe the vandalism committee's intent to canvass the support and advice of town councils, RCMP and local leaders to find ways to reduce or eliminate vandalism is sound.

Nothing can ever be lost when a good active dialogue is sought with all stakeholders.

We believe such an approach is key to successfully tackling the issue at hand.

It also comes down to respect.

Respect for people and property has to start at home.

Children need to respect the environment they're in and that feeling has to accompany them as they head off to school and interact within the community at large.

Only then will we really get a handle on vandalism.