By Staff
March 6, 2017
BURLINGTON, ON
The heavy weights are beginning to have their say about the closing of high schools in Burlington,
World-renowned artist and Robert Bateman High School namesake is speaking out against the possible closure of the school.
Robert Bateman
“The times that I’ve been there I’ve been just amazed at the things they’re doing that no school has ever done before but that were being done at Bateman,” said Robert Bateman, who taught at the south east Burlington school from 1970 when it opened until 1976.
Mr. Bateman now lives in Salt Spring Island, B.C. and still visits the school once a year. When he learned that Bateman HS was one of six schools being considered for closure by the Halton District School Board as part of the Program and Accommodation Review (PAR), he expressed concern about the impact it would have on students and the community.
“I think it’s much better for the kids and much better for their education to have schools in their neighbourhoods so you have the same geography and you have the same feeling for the history of it,” said Mr. Bateman.
“It’s extremely important for the emotional and human component of children.”
Bateman high school students during a cook-off with Burlington fire fighters.
Bateman High School has had more than $2-million in upgrades over the last six years, and with existing accommodations in place for the Community Pathways Program (CPP) it is the most up-to-date for AODA requirements. It fills a unique void in the city’s education system because of its wide range of diverse programming including: International Baccalaureate (IB) program; the self-contained CPP for students with special needs; LEAP Program to help transition students to grade nine; specialty facilities that include a highly customized kitchen for a culinary program and a specialized auto body paint booth for one of the many Ontario Young Apprentice Programs (OYAP).
There is also an Autism Social Skills and Drama Group, Robotics Specialized Course and multiple design/tech rooms. Having all program pathways under one roof is critical to student success as it allows movement between the pathways. Scattering those programs would effectively limit the opportunities available to our most vulnerable student population.
“The school has all kinds of departments that are getting kids much more prepared for life.”
“I think it’s a terrible idea (to close it) and it doesn’t make common sense” says Bateman.
Closing Robert Bateman would also result in the closure of the on-site YMCA Lord Elgin Day Care and could impact Centennial Pool, which had costly renovations last year.
I agree wholeheartedly when Mr. Bateman says “I think it’s much better for the kids and much better for their education to have schools in their neighbourhoods so you have the same geography and you have the same feeling for the history of it”. This is what the parents of students at Central High School have been saying since the start of the PAR process. Walkable neighbourhood schools are essential to student well being.
Geographically Bateman’s walkable catchment area is covered by Nelson High School. Central High School’s walkable catchment area is not covered by other schools. Mr. Bateman has waded into this debate and I suspect that walkability is just one of many issues that he needs to study. Does he really advocate closing other neighbourhood schools thus causing significant increases in busing? If Central closes then 900 Central students will bused out of their community forever. Is that a good outcome for 900 students? Has he thought of this?
The reality is that Bateman has an overlapping catchment with Nelson. If either Nelson or Bateman were to close the geographic impact, because of their overlapping catchments would be minor.
Bateman High School’s programs are important and they all can, and will, be accommodated at other high schools should Bateman close. All high schools, not just Bateman, have important programmes and in the end programs will be moved when any school is closed.
Mr. Bateman should realize that we are trying to solve a problem for all of urban Burlington. We are trying to do what is best for all the students in Burlington and this means that programs will be moved.
Having attended all PARC meetings I find that Mr. Bateman’s claim that ” it doesn’t make common sense” would be better applied to describing the PAR process.
This is wonderful to have a former teacher and namesake for the school advocate for the unique programs this school offers. This is a community itself and its good to know that Mr. Bateman while giving his name to the school gets it when it comes to how special this school is.