‘It seems our country has turned to ways of anger and hate to have their voices heard’

Everyone I know has been heartbroken over the news of St. Stephen-St. Edward school closing. It has brought heightened emotions all around, but all with one goal – to find a way to keep it open.

All three of my children graduated from St. Stephens and our family still feels a strong connection to the school. As I read last week’s letter to the editor, my heart sank. I feel for Mr. Currid, but I don’t believe that the anger and hate that I read in his letter will help attain that goal, or help our children.

When I read it, with all due respect, I couldn’t help but feel it did more harm than good. I know many of the current families at St. Stephens, and they are working hard, and respectfully, to find a way to make this work.

And as much as I don’t want to inflame the situation, there are also a handful of people that are so angry about it, they are lashing out in ways that may make others question are we as parents “practicing what we preach?”

These are difficult times for everyone. We’ve been isolated, lost friends and family, seen people truly suffer. We’re unable to come together to talk things through, to accidentally meet in a store and have a conversation that may break some walls down, or reach someone’s heart. It seems our country has turned to ways of anger and hate to have their voices heard.

Nothing will get better with so much anger and hate, it will only feed off itself, and the message that is trying to be heard will be lost in the noise.

As a St. Stephens community, it’s our responsibility to be the example, because what we’re fighting for, if done for the right reasons, will help our children grow to be voices of peace, love and reason.

Mary-Ellen Kerr

Warwick