Submitted by Chair Amanda Amaral
May 14, 2025
In April, trustees from across the province came together at the British Columbia School Trustees Association (BCSTA) AGM to engage in professional learning and consider the future direction of the association’s work over the next year.
A highlight of the AGM was the opportunity to present alongside two of our Student Trustees and our Superintendent about our Board’s experience with having a student trustee at the table for the past 12 years. While our Board has benefitted from student representation for over a decade, the majority of boards still do not have a student trustee or a formalized way of engaging student voice in district decision-making. Feedback on our presentation was overwhelmingly positive, and I hope we inspired other boards to be courageous in their efforts to amplify student voice in their governance.
Following the professional learning sessions, we transitioned into the business portion of the event. This year, we were honoured to have our student trustee join us during the business session—an invaluable opportunity to observe the debates and contribute to discussions at our table.
However, I was deeply disheartened by some of the debate that unfolded. Comments made about our students—their intentions and capabilities—were rooted in stereotypes, assumptions, prejudice and biases that have no place in our leadership debate. These limiting beliefs undermine the very voices we claim to uplift and celebrate.
As we face increasingly turbulent times globally—with ongoing conflicts, the rise of far-right ideologies, and mounting economic pressures—our responsibility to model respectful, informed, and inclusive debate becomes even more critical. Perhaps most troubling is the growing tendency to confuse freedom of speech with permission for hate. We must do better
“Addressing hate speech does not mean limiting or prohibiting freedom of speech. It means keeping hate speech from escalating into something more dangerous, particularly incitement to discrimination, hostility and violence, which is prohibited under international law.”
— United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres, May 2019
United Nations Strategy and Plan of Action on Hate Speech
Amanda Amaral
Chair