School boards shouldn’t advertise - Perry Guilbault

As I watch television, listen to the radio or watch the transit buses go by, I am truly amazed how the world has changed.

Now, I know I am getting older, but when I was growing up, I do not remember the amount of advertising for schools we see today.

Now I know universities and colleges do compete for business, but when did this start for elementary and secondary schools?

It seems that every time we turn around, there is a commercial for junior kindergarten, kindergarten, French Immersion, secondary programs and so on, which makes it look like each school is fighting for more business.

Now, we all know that the fertility rate in Ontario was 1.2 per cent in 2011. Therefore we have a declining enrolment rate. That being the case, it is time for our school systems to align their facilities and staff according to the student enrolment.

This also means that you cannot keep adding teacher assistants and other positions to create employment. The bottom line is that it is time to realize that you cannot compete for students and you must stop wasting taxpayers hard-earned money on advertising.

Remember, your mandate is education and not marketing.

Perry Guilbault
Greater Sudbury

Posted by Vivian Scinto