Teacher pleads for help for inner-city students 2011, only, teacher, because, written

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Teacher pleads for help for inner-city students
Says many of her students need shoes, snacks and socks
Shane Bigham Sep 26, 2011 07:04:37 AM
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VANCOUVER (NEWS1130) - A local teacher is making an urgent plea for help because too many of her students are hungry, stressed, and cold.  Carrie Gelson with Admiral Seymour Elementary in Vancouver has written an open letter addressed to the public.

We're only three weeks into the school year, and she has a list of things her inner-city students who need things that include, snacks, warm socks, and shoes.  Gelson sent her letter to the Vancouver Sun after a tough day on the job, saying the words just poured out of her.

Gelson, who has been teaching for 16 years, adds that she's not trying to shame anyone, she just let everyone know many of her students, and others at inner-city schools, need help.  She teaches a split-class of students in Grades 2 and 3.

The teacher also says more counsellors are needed, because many of her students are "overwhelmed by sadness."  Right now, Gelson says her school is visited by a counsellor once a week for a part of the day.

Meantime, several local school boards are enjoying some extra cash.  They are reporting surpluses, thanks in part to cheques cut by the Eduction Ministry at the end of June.

Richmond is in the black to the tune of $9.5 million, while Abbotsford has a surplus of over $6 million.  Surrey, the province's largest school district, has a surplus of just over $2 million.

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