TAIT: Impressed by father to rally for causes like particular wants schooling
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Harold Tait, Cam Tait’s father, inspired his son to stand up for what is right. Photo delivered by
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The standard dad’s yarn for emotionally spinning on Father’s Day is not only alluring but also screams sentimental awe.
But these are different times.
So I’m going to illustrate the mantra of my father Harold Tait, the character figure who died in 2007. Papa was also a visionary, a stubborn soul who literally did not allow any wrongdoing to be swept under the rug.
Dad, who was known in his day for enjoying a cigarette or two, heard a message early on that I disagreed with.
Dad’s teeth pressed gently on his cigarette, thought for a few seconds, and said, “Better hell”.
I thought of dad’s message on Friday reading a Sun story about the leaked letter from Education Minister Adriana LaGrange about changing standards for students with disabilities without – perhaps better sit down – public consultation with parents.
Brilliant.
Damn brilliant.
Not only is this message of profound disrespect for parents – all parents of Alberta students – extremely complex, having come from LaGrange’s letterhead.
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The fact that she is the education minister and not a teacher is a headache, but not a game changer in that sense.
For me, this is this: Research shows that LaGrange, who grew up in Guelph, Ontario, had a younger brother named Louie, who lived with Down syndrome.
Louie Dametto died in 2012 at the age of 49.
You’d think a sibling of someone with a disability sees the struggles, disappointments, and walls of their parents they face.
And you might also think that siblings are pampering these experiences, using creativity and wisdom to create a future that – I don’t know – may be more inclusive.
Thinking is one thing. Reality is different.
The Sun story also goes that LaGrange used a ministerial order to set their decision in stone. Interestingly, it is worrying that such a ministerial order conveniently bypasses public debate within the legislature prior to implementation.
The course of action for any journalist writing this story is to contact LaGrange, right boss?
But hold on. The Friday story says the minister will not be giving any interviews this week … but she was active on Twitter on Friday.
Laryngitis! Yes, of course, given the spring allergies flying around, the minister may have lost her voice.
We wish her all the best.
But we also need to be absolutely clear – parents of disabled children are some of the toughest, most loving, visionary and selfless people on the planet. The sacrifices they make for their children are very noble.
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It is fundamentally wrong for any group, especially the government, to deny this experience and wisdom.
And its timing is worse than a stand-up comic on a bad night.
It is Father’s Day when we honor fathers and offer them encouragement and wisdom for the future.
As Alberta rolls the dice to lift COVID-19 restrictions on July 1, the province is facing a summer like no other.
But for parents of disabled students, it’s another summer full of worry and uncertainty.
LaGrange, your rocky political career continues aimlessly. I believe you made an inexcusable error of assessment.
And, dad, sorry for breaking one of your most important rules – using a four-letter word on a Sunday.
But on the second thought, and in this case, I think you’d use it too.
ctait@postmedia.com
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