While her organization regularly hears from parents who feel their concerns aren't taken seriously by school divisions, Silva says she's never heard of a division taking this kind of legal step. Silva says she believes the parents' concerns about a large combined classroom are "well-founded" and exist around the province. "Once you bring in legal counsel, it sets up a David and Goliath dynamic."
"It seems like a very heavy-handed way to shut this conversation down," said Barbara Silva, communications director with Support Our Students Alberta. It accuses the parents of repeatedly pressuring school staff members through text messages, emails - as well as in person - and says several staff members claim they felt "unduly pressured by your relentless tactics." It goes on to say the Foothills School Division has responded to each concern relating to their children.
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"Your advocacy has exceeded the boundaries of productive dialogue and devolved into disparaging the professional reputation of well-respected educators," the letter states. It also threatens legal action if they don't refrain from repeating or publishing their comments. It claims they've made defamatory comments, filed malicious complaints and says that they could be banned from the school. The letter accuses parents of making false allegations in communications to various parties. I would have expected somebody to come to us and say, 'Oh, these are real and valid concerns you have.
"We are parents attempting to advocate for our children in a very calm open manner," said Colborne. Other parents have also received the letter and are not willing to be interviewed as a result. "It's an example of trying to squash a fly with a sledgehammer," said Gillian Colborne, one of the mothers who spoke to CBC News after pulling her son from the class over concerns he was struggling in a large room with 47 kids and two teachers.Ĭolborne, who has another child attending the school, says parents have been trying to get answers from the school division for months, and she was surprised to receive the three-page cease-and-desist letter. The letter - served on behalf of the Foothills School Division - was written by Brownlee LLP, a large Edmonton law firm, and penned two days after CBC's original story was published. A Calgary-area mother who spoke out to CBC News over concerns about a large combined Grade 2 class at Red Deer Lake School has been handed a cease-and-desist letter by a law firm on behalf of the school board.