By Alice McFarlane

Saskatchewan school division apologies for sign that attacks agriculture

May 27, 2021 | 10:37 AM

MELFORT, Sask. — Sun West School Division has apologized to the agriculture community for a sign at Outlook Elementary School.

The school was inundated with calls asking about the message saying farming affected oceans, hurt habitats and decreased oxygen.

Sun West School Division director of education Randy Emmerson said students were summarizing a lesson on sustainability and tried to compress the message into a dozen words.

“In the condensing of all of the learning that had occurred, a mistake was made in the translation and how it appeared within the condensed portion of the sign,” Emmerson said. “Purely a mistake and how it was posted.”

In a Facebook post the division said the message was unfair to the agricultural industry and they understood why many people, especially those whose livelihood comes from farming, found it offensive.

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“We strongly value agriculture. We know it’s important. We know that our farmers are the stewards of the land. The mistake that was made is one that already has been learned,” Emmerson said.

The sign now has a famous quote from former American President George Washington.

(Facebook/Sun West School Division)

The response on social media was quick and at times harsh.

Ituna area rancher Adrienne Ivey responded on Facebook with a list of things she wanted the staff and students at Outlook Elementary School to know about farming.

Ivey said many people in Saskatchewan have a personal connection to the farm. This is a reminder that even with strong agricultural connections there is a lot of work to be done to educate the public about agriculture, she said.

“When signs like this go up, it is just a real eye opener that maybe we aren’t quite as connected as we thought we were,” Ivey told farmnewsNOW. “If things like this are happening in rural small towns that are so agriculture dependent, what does that conversation look like in very urban areas, like Toronto or Vancouver?”

Farmers on social media suggested an agriculture day at the school where farmers and industry professionals could speak to students.

Education is the key, according to Ivey. She said the Agriculture in the Classroom program does a great job connecting with schools.

“They just need two things. They need boots on the ground; people involved in agriculture who are willing to go into schools and help out, and they need funding,” Ivey said.

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alice.mcfarlane@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @farmnewsNOW