The message on a sign located outside the walls of Outlook Elementary School earlier this week fell on ears that were left floored, appalled, and downright angry.
The sign that sits posted just outside the doors of the school routinely contains words of hope, understanding and inspiration, but the message it temporarily put out sent shockwaves throughout the agriculture-rich community of Outlook and area after a photo of the sign was posted to social media.
The sign read, "Farming Affects Oceans. Chemicals Hurt Habitats & Species. They Also Decr Oxygen Levels."
Though the sign was put up on May 25, it was a day before someone took serious notice of it enough to post it online on May 26, with the result producing an outcry with considerable reach across the province.
The reactions from people across Saskatchewan online have run the gamut of the visceral, emotional response to the calmer, educated counterpoint:
"That teacher obviously has a limited knowledge of ecology.
I taught this subject for years using accurate data to show relationships between natural cycles; unpredictable natural catastrophes; impact of human activity upon atmosphere; oceans; lakes & rivers.
The human impact on planetary climate & cycles is much less than some believe.
In fact, human intervention into watershed runoff activity has saved large amounts of good soil from being carried into water systems," posted one person.
"Perhaps the "adults" who teach these one-sided messages should endeavour to live for a month without making use of any of the products of farming? At the end of that month, I suspect their message might be a bit more balanced," posted another.
"Nobody works harder than a farmer. Trust me I grew up on a family farm, the work never stops. There is no off season, no holidays, no time off, just work. Unless you have lived it you just don't know," was another viewpoint.
"So sad to see this kind of misinformation. Also an educators beliefs, no matter political, environmental etc has zero place in a classroom or school environment. Children should be taught to gather information and make their own decisions not have other opinions forced upon them," posted another person.
"Teachers and schools should be teaching facts not personal opinions," came another response.
Other viewpoints on the matter were more succinct, such as "Don't like farming? Don't eat!"
The sign's message even made political waves, with Conservative MP Andrew Scheer taking to his official Facebook page to post an image of the sign and send out the following message:
"This is unbelievable, and infuriating.Â
We all benefit from modern farming. Without it, food would be unaffordable for most people. Canadian agricultural practices are the best in the world and we should be celebrating it, not attacking it. Especially in Saskatchewan.Â
I just spoke to the principal, and am relieved that the sign has been changed. Let’s hope the kids in this school get the full picture. Radical activists should not be indoctrinating our kids like this."
Parents and ag producers alike weren't shy about letting their views be known, with an image of the sign spreading like wildfire all over Facebook, many people asking just how a message such as this could be sent out in a community that's so deeply entrenched in agriculture.
As the backlash against the message seemed to quickly reach a fever pitch, by mid-afternoon on May 26, the sign had been taken down and replaced with a new message that now reads, "Agriculture - The Most Healthful The Most Useful & Most Noble Employment of Man. Washington".
The Sun West School Division also reached out to The Outlook with the following statement:Â
"Sun West apologizes to the community in Outlook and the agriculture community in general for the message placed on the sign at Outlook Elementary School on May 25. The message was unfair to the agricultural industry and we understand why many people, especially those whose livelihood comes from farming, found it offensive. Sun West is a rural school division and deeply committed to agriculture. We offer a variety of courses in agriculture and our students participate in programs that promote agriculture. Sun West enjoys a number of very positive and productive partnerships with agriculture industry stakeholders and it is our goal to improve agricultural literacy in our school division."
Though the school division is doing its best to calm the storm, a sizable number of people are still letting their emotions be known to the school, posting comments on Outlook Elementary's Facebook page.
