The Citizen, 2009-05-21, Page 12By Rev. Gary ClarkBlyth United ChurchI can understand the anger that
many people have with the
recommendation coming from
the Accommodation Review
Committee. It seems to completely
ignore the tremendous work put
forward by the local folks.
All our hopes, concerns and
visions completely ignored. And to
make matters worse it also seems
that the rules for the review were
not completely accurate. The review
went forward with belief that there
were five schools in the process
when in fact there was a sixth, F.E.
Madill.
It does appear that the elementary
school of Blyth is being sacrificed
to fill a high school. I can say that
this makes me angry and I want to
do something about it. Anger that
has no place to go or no healthy
outlet usually expresses it’s self in
unhealthy ways.
But before I go there let me
reflect a bit on this situation.
We are in this position because of
a bureaucracy, that many of us put
in place (or support) to educate our
children. Unfortunately it seems
that one overarching principle has
gained prominence in that
bureaucracy and that is to educate
as cheaply as possible.
There seems to be very little care
to what the loss of a school means
to a community; to a child that now
has to ride a bus; or parents who are
very much against their Grade 7 and
8s going to a high school.
Bureaucracies, even well
meaning ones follow rules and
plunk numbers into formulas that
they or others have made. That’s
what they do. Bureaucracies are
meant to be cold and efficient.
This isn’t a new reality. I believe
that Jesus was crucified by a well
meaning bureaucracy. Jesus just
didn’t follow the rules.
In fact he challenged the rules and
overturned the money changers’
tables. Those tables were there with
the approval of the religious
bureaucracy and that bureaucracy
earned a financial benefit from
them.
Jesus’ actions were his way of
graphically saying that a
relationship with God should not be
restricted based solely (no pun
intended) on the ability of a
worshiper to pay. Since the
bureaucracy of the time didn’t want
to hear any criticism of their waysJesus was killed.A little closer to home we don’t
have to look far to see others
frustrated, belittled and ignored by a
bureaucracy. I speak of the
Aboriginal people of Canada. They
are forced to work with the
Department of Aboriginal Affairs
and in most cases they feel like the
bureaucracy doesn’t care about their
needs, hopes or visions for a better
future.
For a good number of generations
the same kind of frustration that we
in Blyth are now feeling was turned
inward in the most unhealthy and
destructive ways. Now at last a new
generation has begun to hold their
ground and demand to be heard.
They demand to be understood and
they are demanding a change in
how the bureaucracy treats them.
Unfortunately so many non-
Aboriginals have just not
understood the frustration and anger
of Aboriginal people. Instead of
supporting their fight to be heard,
we white folks had tended to
support the bureaucracy.
Up until now we simply did not
understand or believe that a well
meaning bureaucracy could be so
‘care-less’ about the needs of those
whom the bureaucracy are supposedto serve. Today we know betterbecause today we have had just a
small taste of what it feels like to
have our work, concerns, and
dreams ignored.
Perhaps I missed a meeting where
a solid case was made that moving
the Grades 7s and 8s to a high
school is good for ‘their’ education.
If not then I can only assume that
this is purely a money issue. That
money, our money, is granted
through the provincial government
and it is that level of the
bureaucracy to which we must
direct our demands. Going directly
to that level is against the rules of
the bureaucracy but so is any real
challenge to the way things have
evolved.
We have created this bureaucracy
through the policies of government
that we elected and we, through
direct action and political pressure,
need to believe that we have the
power to change it.
The question that remains is, are
we willing to pay the cost of
challenging the bureaucracy? The
cost will be in money, frustration,
anger, disappointment and
humiliation.
But to take on this challenge is a
far healthier choice than silence.Jesus knew that and now theAboriginal folks of Canada know it
as well.
I suggest we start writing our
MPP, the Minister of Education, the
Premier and everyone in between.
Maybe we can change things? After
all, because of this we have been
changed. We now have a small sense ofhow the Aboriginal people have
been treated and feel. Maybe next
time we will stand with them when
they rail against injustice and a cold
bureaucracy.
PAGE 12. THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, MAY 21, 2009.From the Minister’s StudyWhen hopes and concerns are ignored
308 Blyth Rd. E. ~ Pastor Les Cook 519-523-4590
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Canadian Foodgrains Bank
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Office: 519-523-4224 Rev. Gary Clark
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Morning Worship Service and Sunday School
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