PDSB Trustee Satpal Singh Johal visited Stanley Mills Public School, (286 Sunny Meadow Blvd) in Brampton’s ward 9. This school has 430 Students, and over 60 percent of the students are from the Punjabi community.
– ਵਰਦੀ ਬਾਰੇ ਗੱਲ ਹੋਈ: Mr. Brains agreed to discuss the need for the uniform in the next parents’ council meeting to find out if enough support for it exists in the community.
– ਸਸਪੈਂਡ ਕਰਨ ਬਾਰੇ ਗੱਲ ਹੋਈ: Principal Bains told that he did not have to suspend any student during this, and the last year. Yesterday, one student complained about the N** word and the situation was resolved without suspension because the conversation was between two students only.
– ਨਸ਼ੇ ਬਾਰੇ ਗੱਲ ਹੋਈ: He said that even sometimes girls bring whisky mixed with Tylenol 3 in their water bottle from home. The Principal clearly said that parents must watch what their kids are doing at home, and they must also watch what they do (use of alcohol, abusive language) in front of their kids.
– ਬੱਚਿਆਂ ਦੇ ਵਿਗੜਨ ਬਾਰੇ ਗੱਲ ਹੋਈ: Principal Bains said that the busy kids perform best. Parents must have activities for kids at home and outside. School time is just 6 hours/per day. The rest of the time parents have to manage their children.
– ਸਹਿਯੋਗ ਬਾਰੇ ਗੱਲ ਹੋਈ: Principal Deep Bains said that our community needs to understand that parenting style in India will not work in Canada. For the best interest of their children, parents must team up with the School.
– ਵਿਤਕਰੇ ਬਾਰੇ ਗੱਲ ਹੋਈ: On the discrimination issue, he said that our community should trust us. We treat all students equally, there are consequences for everyone if a discriminatory slur (such as the N** word) is used by any student against any student.
– ਫੋਨ ਦੀ (ਦੁਰ)ਵਰਤੋਂ ਬਾਰੇ ਗੱਲ ਹੋਈ: Principal added that unsupervised device use is not safe for the kids. Their computer and phone should have no place in the bedrooms, they must all times be used in the common area of the home.
– ਸਟਾਫ ਦੀ ਘਾਟ ਬਾਰੇ ਗੱਲ ਹੋਈ: Principal comfortably confirmed that he has enough teachers, staff, including the EAs. In case of absences, they call replacements from the supply pool.
– ਪੋਰਟੇਬਲ ਬਾਰੇ ਗੱਲ ਹੋਈ: Stanley Mills Public school has no portables. Since enrolment numbers went down after COVID and the real estate boom, this school has now surplus space for more students in the building.
– ਟੀਚਰਾਂ ਦੀ ਅੰਗਰੇਜੀ ਬਾਰੇ ਗੱਲ ਹੋਈ: Principal Bains (locally born and raised) said that the Canadian English accent is no more a reality for the present and future Canada. We are an immigration-driven country/society. He said qualified and accredited teachers are good enough to teach. He also said that kids are smart, and they pick up the language very quickly. Mr. Bains confidently said that parents (of any community) should not be worried about the English fluency and competency of the internationally educated and trained teachers in our schools.
Satpal Singh Johal, PDSB Trustee for Brampton’s wards 9 and 10
