November 11, 2002

______________ , Trustee
Hamilton-Wentworth District School Board               S A M P L E      L E T T E R
100 Main Street West
P.O. Box 2558
Hamilton, ON L8N 3L1

Re: Alternative Education

Dear Trustee      ,

Congratulations to the Trustees and the Administration of the School Board for successfully addressing the needs of families who support a program with an arts and global education emphasis. Reports about the S.A.G.E. program are encouraging, as it is a program that addresses the values of the home, and provides an environment where the children will flourish academically. Alternative education will have a positive impact on school achievement. The Board of Education seems to be embracing the fundamental belief that to serve all children, we need to meet their unique needs. Alternative programming is one strategy for meeting the needs of children.

Recently, I attended a P.A.C.E. public information meeting. I support the mission statement of the PACE program where the values and worldview, taught at home, "would be respected and complemented at school ... so that students may develop binding commitments to their families, neighbours, country and the global community while leading moral, healthy and productive lives."

Demonstrating respect for spiritual differences is supported by the Ontario College of Teachers' Standards of Practice for the Teaching Profession document which states, "Teachers will:

1. understand and use a range of teaching methods to address learning, cultural, spiritual and language...differences;
2. help students to appreciate their own identity, to learn more about their cultural history and to build self-esteem;
3. accommodate the differences in students and respect their diversity;
4. establish safe and supportive learning environments."

Alternative programming attracts people to public education. More than fifty percent of the students enroled in SAGE are families new to the Hamilton-Wentworth District School Board. The PACE alternative program would assist more schools, like Strathcona, to operate at or near capacity. Families desiring a PACE alternative for their children, have completed expressions of interest cards for more than 500 children. Just like S.A.G.E., more than fifty percent are families that would be new to the public school system.

Programs sensitive to the needs of families of faith, such as PACE, are supported by The Education Act. This is evidenced by the following current programs operating in the Province of Ontario:

1. Eden High School (Christian high school alternative, Niagara District Public School Board;
2. Centre Peel School (Old Order Mennonite Alternative), Drayton, ON, Upper Grand District School Board;
3. Sturgeon Creek Alternative Program (K - 10 Christian alternative), Rainy River District School Board;
4. Houghton Public School (Mexican Mennonite alternative), Grand Erie District School Board.

I encourage you to work with the PACE executive to implement a program that meets the needs of these families.

Yours truly,