School boards in the Okotoks area have given some food for thought in decisions to allow students to go on school-sanctioned international field trips.
As a result, some students at Foothills Composite High School and St. John Paul II Collegiate will get to dine on carbonara and gelato for desert.
Both Foothills School Division and Christ the Redeemer Catholic Schools approved field trips to Italy for the Easter holiday. For SJPII, a decision was made by parents and staff to reroute a trip to France for Italy, in light of the November terrorists attack in Paris.
It’s a wise choice — and not a compromise to terrorism.
Last spring, in this very space, the Western Wheel applauded a decision to allow cheerleaders to attend a competition after a bomb threat at West Ed — don’t give in to terrorism, we wrote with Donald Trump-like bravado.
Parents ultimately decided not to send their children to Edmonton — and they are the ones who should decide.
CTR Catholic’s decision to forego a trip to France was made in consultation with parents and due diligence. To ignore Canadian Foreign Affairs web site’s advice to “Exercise a high degree of caution (with regional advisories) when going to France,” is not pushing back at terrorists, it’s irresponsible.
CTR Catholic superintendent of schools Scott Morrison is absolutely right when stating the division’s job is not to fight terrorism but to keep students safe.
While not bubble-wrapping students, boards must do due diligence to keep students safe — providing families with piece of mind.
As for the students, Arrivederci.
And more importantly, safe returns.
