Some parents feel really strongly that the blanket ban forbidding dogs from the campus at school drop-off and pick-up times is too strict. They have asked the school to reconsider. The school has replied saying it has to put the interests of pupils first. But if parents can come up with a workable solution, it’s willing to listen.
Here are the elements of the problem:
- Some kids are very frightened of dogs.
- The fear of coming into contact with dogs makes these kids not want to come to school.
- Any solution we propose cannot involve the risk of kids who don’t like dogs meeting dogs.
- We can’t ask kids to limit their movements, so dogs and their owners would have to be out of the way somewhere
- The solution can’t increase the number of kids crossing the road (i.e dog owners waiting for their kids on the grassy area behind the cars).
- The school cannot release kids in P3 or younger unless there is a parent or authorised adult at the school exit to meet them.
The final point means that you couldn’t for instance, have a P1 parent waiting with their dog off campus on Alma Avenue and expect their child to leave school and meet them. The teacher simply isn’t allowed to let that child leave school, unless they can see the parent or carer who is there to collect them and observe that collection happening.
There’s a map of the campus above, to help you as you mull this over. If you have any helpful suggestions, please let us know. Our email address is chairperson@breadalbaneparents.com.