Dear Editor,
While the Regional Education Officer’s enthusiasm for children’s participation in the opening of the new Wismar–Mackenzie Bridge may be understandable, I respectfully believe that issuing a directive in this regard was inappropriate and quite frankly out of place.
Parents and guardians bear primary responsibility for their children’s welfare, particularly outside scheduled school hours. Their authority to determine their children’s participation should be respected. An invitation, supported by clear information about supervision, transportation and safety, would have been a more appropriate approach.
That concern, however, should not diminish the significance of the occasion on Sunday after church.
It is in this regard I respectfully encourage parents and guardians across Region Ten to consider the opportunity for their children to witness a historic milestone in the development of their community.
A bridge is more than a physical structure. It connects communities, expands opportunity and will become part of the shared experience of successive generations. For our children, witnessing its opening can bring lessons and inspiration for future engineers, it promotes civic responsibility and a desire for national development beyond the classroom and into lived experience.
Whatever our political differences, let us set aside divisive rhetoric and recognise the educational and historical value of this moment. Our children deserve opportunities to observe, ask questions and understand how public infrastructure can shape their lives and aspirations.
With due regard for parental choice and appropriate arrangements for their welfare, let us give our children the opportunity to participate in this chapter of Linden’s history, with pride in their community and confidence in its future.
Yours respectfully,
Jermaine Figueira
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