Roland Butler, Opposition Education Critic and MHA for the District of Port de Grave, says the health and safety concerns at Paradise Elementary raises concerns that similar problems may exist in other schools in the province. He is now calling on the department to complete a school-by-school analysis to identify other potential problems.   

Paradise Elementary has now been shut down for the remainder of the school year as work crews attempt to remove mould that appears to be  putting children=s health at risk. While the Eastern School District has tried to reopen the school, frustrated and angry parents say that the problems at the school were not being adequately addressed. 

"I  have received calls from teachers at other schools in the Eastern School District who are concerned that their school  have similar problems to those at Paradise Elementary. I think the issues are serious enough to warrant the Department of Education completing an assessment of the situations in other schools around the province. This information should then be made available to the public, as parents have a right to know if there are any problems at the schools attended by their children." 

The Liberal critic says the teachers who called him with their  concerns did not feel comfortable in raising the matters publicly, for fear of  negative consequences for speaking out.  These teachers point out that a great deal of government money is being pumped into good programs to encourage children not to smoke and to eat healthy. Yet, it appears government is  failing to look after basics, such as providing a safe and healthy building in which to attend school. A The Minister of Education has an obligation to get involved in this issue to ensure that parents are aware of any potential dangers their children may face in schools. 

"I  have watched very closely what has happened at Paradise Elementary and the  parents are to be commended for aggressively pursuing the Eastern School District and all parties involved to get to the heart of this problem so that the health and well-being of teachers, support staff and most of all the children are protected. I encourage teacher organizations and parent groups around the province to start speaking out on this issue in whatever forums are available to them, in the same manner the parents of Paradise Elementary have done." 

Butler says he is also very concerned that teachers still feel intimidated to speak out on this issue. "The meagre assurances by the premier that they will not suffer repercussions for speaking out is not enough. There is still a sense out there that teachers will be punished if they highlight issues that embarrass government or the