Remembrance Day again.  As a High School Principal of seven different Alternative Schools in the West Island of Montreal, I found this day this year particularly significant as a statement of what we, as educators and members of society find important and noteworthy.

In speaking with teachers about plans for this day, I was shocked to find that the majority reaction was that they "didn't have time" or they weren't willing to take a significant amount of time to address this day with their students.  No surprise then that the students, when I spoke with them, barely even knew, let alone cared, what this day represents.

By no means are my personal politics or views on teh conservative side of the coin, but regardless of what we would like to reflect upon on this day, I believe that reflection is necessary.   Some people feel as if this is a day that glorifies war, or that by making a "big deal" out of Remembrance Day that they are somehow supporting all of the good and bad things that are attached to militaries around the world.  There are also people who would like to just do a "head check" with their classes and see what the day means to them.  I am very much in support of the latter.  All to often we don't do this with our students and they are left with the images that are fed to them through media, textbooks and whatever family member has an opinion.

When a teenager's only exposure to ceremony, patriotism, and pride in country only comes in sporting events, there is a problem that needs to be addressed and it must be addressed by educators as well as the community at large.  Whatever the day means to us, I think that collective reflection, questionning and discussion should be the focus and the "teachable moment" that we should all take advantage of to discuss with our students issues that are bigger than algebra or paragraphs.

Particularly with the kids who come to school in the alternative centres where I work who represent the largest "target population" of the military recruiters, issues of remembrance, forgiveness, collective pride in nation and respect need to be addressed.

Needless to say that my next bunch of staff meetings and conversations with teachers will have this topic as a "jumping off" point and I hope that our next Remembrance Day in the Alternative Centres will be one that will have a little more significance for all concerned because if we don't make a big deal of this, than very few other people will and our students will take their "cues" from us.