The Impact of Overcrowding on My Family

maureen — Thu, 11 Jun 2009 11:17:00 GMT

Over-crowding at Glen Stewart Elemenatry

I am finding it difficult to not get very UPSET about this situation. The more I research and hear about EGOs at the Eastern School Board getting in the way of my children's education, the angrier I get.

I've been researching and found an informative article - Impact of Inadequate School Facilities on Student Learning http://www.ed.gov/offices/OESE/archives/inits/construction/impact2.html It has good information on the impact that over-crowded schools has on education.

My otherwise-healthy son Jakob regularly misses school because of headaches and nausea. I've found out that high levels of carbon dioxide causes headaches and nausea. And over-crowding at Glen Stewart Elementary is one of the causes of the high levels of carbon dioxide as indicated in a report by Joan Moore of the Eastern School District in the following article (and audio clip):

http://www.cbc.ca/canada/prince-edward-island/story/2009/04/23/pei-dirty-school.html and don't understand why more parents aren't appalled about this like I am. I don't think they know the extent, frankly. I've spoken to parents who are wondering if symptoms that their children are displaying (lethargic, breathing problems, allergies, etc.) are related to Glen Stewart being over-crowded and the unacceptable high levels of carbon dioxide.

My boys' father and I are taking our son to the doctor immediately and finding out if there's anyway to test for levels of carbon dioxide in his system. I honestly just clued in that carbon dioxide could be the cause after years of wondering what is wrong. Our kids' health and education are the fundamental cornerstones on our hierachy of priorities and I become similar to a mother bear if they are being threatened.

This website talks about the crisis of over-crowding: http://justschools.gseis.ucla.edu/crisis/overcrowding/index.html and the impact of "busing" kids.

This has been going on at Glen Stewart for 10 YEARS????

Our son is entering grade one in September and our other son is going into grade 5.

In fact, just over a year ago, we were informed by an announcement on the radio on a Thursday, that the Eastern School Board was changing the age of eligibility and that our son could start kindergarten on that Monday. The kindergarten teachers, grade one teachers and parents were all caught completely unaware.

As a result, our son completed the three remaining months of kindergarten however we didn't feel he was prepared to enter grade one French immersion so we held him back for another year. He is slated to start school in September and enter into the grade one wing of Glen Stewart where kids are being taught in hallways, closets, and crammed into classrooms.

Ironically, he just overheard me giving a phone interview to the newspaper and asked "Mom, what's carbon dioxide? I don't want to get sick like Jake (his older brother)".

Enough is enough. I demand that my children's education and health NOT be compromised any longer by the bureaucratic, red-taped, political processes that have been going on with the Eastern School Board.

Sincerely, Maureen Kerr

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The Impact of Overcrowding on My Family