South Surrey/White Rock Learning Centre must be saved

The Surrey School District announced the learning centre will be shut down by June

Art by Desmond Tompkins. (Submitted)

Art by Desmond Tompkins. (Submitted)

Editor’s Note: This article mentions sexual abuse, harassment, and other abuse that may be distressing to some readers. If you or someone you know needs help, please reach out to HealthLinkBC at 811 or VictimLink BC at 1-800-563-0808. Help is available, please reach out. 

The Surrey School District recently announced it will be shutting down the South Surrey/White Rock Learning Centre in June, an alternative education program for at-risk youth. The district is citing a lack of funding.

I am a former student of the South Surrey/White Rock Learning Centre, having studied there from Grades 10 through 12. I can say, without a doubt, that attending this school saved my life.

As a queer person, I faced significant bullying and harassment in mainstream schools. The situation escalated to the point where a group of students attempted to physically assault me on school grounds. On another occasion, I was physically and sexually assaulted while at school. 

In response to these incidents, staff at my high school recommended I transfer to the learning centre as I would not be safe in a mainstream school environment. Given these challenges, if I had been integrated into a traditional school setting, my safety would have been compromised.

It was only when I came to the South Surrey/White Rock Learning Centre that I finally felt safe enough to engage with my school community. I was able to express myself and pursue my passion, and went from being a highly anxious person who struggled to attend class to a straight-A student who positively engaged with my peers. 

The support of the staff at the learning centre also helped me discover my dream of becoming a teacher and working with at-risk youth. Without their encouragement, I would never have found this passion nor had the courage to pursue it. 

Today, I am an undergraduate student completing my bachelor’s degree in English at Kwantlen Polytechnic University, with plans to continue on to teacher education and work for the Surrey School District. 

Cutting funding for a school that supports at-risk youth goes against the Surrey School District’s values of diversity and inclusion. The district’s commitment to meeting the needs of all students, especially those from diverse backgrounds, cannot be achieved by reducing resources for its most vulnerable. A district that fails to meet its stated goals and abandons students who are already struggling cannot be trusted to support all learners. 

For many of us, this school was our only safe space, where we could start to heal and rebuild our futures. By considering its closure, the school district sends the message that the struggles of at-risk youth do not matter and that they are not worth investing in. This decision would not only take away their education but also their sense of hope for the future. 

I am one of many students, past and present, that feel this way. We have started a petition calling for the Ministry of Education and Child Care and the Surrey School District to reconsider this harmful decision.

The petition has gained thousands of signatures, and our number of supporters have only continued to grow. Our campaign’s success underscores the important role that the learning centre plays in our community. To view or sign the petition, visit www.bit.ly/learningcentrepetition

For the sake of all youth like me, please don’t close the door on their futures. This isn’t just about education — it’s about the well-being, survival, and success of at-risk youth in our community.