Vancouver, B.C. – Imagine the ideal school — one where every child knows and looks out for each other, teachers offer unique learning opportunities, children play and learn in expansive outdoor green spaces, convenient out-of-school care is provided at an adjacent community centre, and parents are actively involved in the life of the school. Now, imagine closing that school. The ideal school described above is Dr. A.R. Lord Elementary School — the epitome of a flourishing small school — yet it is on the Vancouver School Board’s list for potential closure.
“The very fact that A.R. Lord is small provides invaluable benefits to our children and their learning,” says parent Lisa Patterson. “There’s a sense of connectedness and community that just can’t be replicated in a large school.”
Numerous studies in both Canada and the United States indicate small schools provide demonstrable benefits in the form of educational success, positive social and interpersonal behaviour, increased extracurricular participation and community engagement. The benefits are particularly pronounced for children who experience learning or health challenges.
Anita Coueffin’s grandson, Ryan, attends A.R. Lord. He has autism and is excelling in the small school setting. “It has been a very long, arduous process to get Ryan comfortable and feeling good about coming to school,” says Coueffin. “When Ryan is stressed out, his autistic tics become very overwhelming to him and also to his classmates. Because our school is small, Ryan feels very safe and he knows that everyone in the school understands his autism. If Ryan were moved to a large school it would be absolutely detrimental to his well-being.”
One of the reasons Sarah MacKinnon chose to send her child, Eila, to A.R. Lord is because she has life-threatening tree nut allergies. “I know that everyone in the school is aware of Eila’s food allergies and are on the lookout to keep her safe. I would not have the same sense of security in a larger school,” says MacKinnon. Her son also has food allergies and is due to start kindergarten at A.R. Lord in 2017.
Many other children at A.R. Lord who have anxiety, or other conditions or challenges are able to attend school regularly and thrive because, as research has proven, in small schools the relationships between students, parents and teachers are strong, trusting and ongoing. This enhances learning, increases parental involvement (a critical factor in student success) and improves satisfaction for all.
“If schools are closed based on a formula of cost-per-student, smaller schools will have trouble competing with larger schools,” says Patterson. “The formula needs to value learning outcomes, social cohesion and healthy communities. If it does, smaller schools like A.R. Lord will come out on top.”
Even the Vancouver School Board’s website indicates the optimum size for an elementary school is between 200 and 400 students. At current growth rates in the student population, A.R. Lord will be at its full capacity of 200 students in less than three years.
