A free class on Oct. 11 aims to teach parents how to advocate for their children’s education.
The session will be held by Surrey Students Now (SSN), a group of concerned parents.
“Advocacy can be done by everyone, in various ways,” reads an event poster. “From writing an email, or speaking at a Board of Education meeting and everything in between, you can have an impact on education in Surrey.”
Cindy Dalglish with SSN said the event was created because the group noticed parents don’t always know how to navigate the system.
“It is complicated and laborious,” said Dalglish, who, along with other local parents, pleaded with city hall to turn down a development application in her Panorama neighbourhood earlier this year. “We are taking all our learnings from the past eight months and simplifying it for others.”
The “Advocating for Education 101” session will go over the true costs of having children in portables, how to know if a school is overcapacity, and more.
“Many have no idea that portables are paid for out of operating funds and what the implications are,” added Dalglish. “They don’t understand the implications of overcrowded schools. Many accept ‘no’ and don’t know how to dig deeper.”
The event is set for Tuesday, Oct. 11 from 6:30 to 8 p.m. at Ecole Woodward Hill Elementary, 6082 142nd St., Surrey. To register, visit surreystudentsnow.com. Free childminding is available but registration is required.