Why Alberta school shouldn’t shield students from rowdy MLAs during legislature field trips

I can relate to Alberta school officials who've decided that watching politicians in action at the provincial legislature would be too disturbing for malleable young minds.

Innisfail Middle School sent a letter last fall to the speaker, premier and opposition leaders that they would no longer include a visit to the chamber in session as part of future tours of the legislature. It complained the disrespectful way government and opposition MLAs treat each other was hardly likely to foster respect in Alberta's central democratic institution.

It's an understandable reaction, but I think it's the wrong one.

The letter, reported by CBC News, was triggered by a Grade 6 social studies class visit in November.

"The overarching goal of the curriculum is to instill a sense of respect and desire for participation in the democratic process," the letter said.

[ Related: Alberta legislature too disrespectful for school visits ]

A similar field trip two years ago was marked by dismay at the lack of respect shown by legislature members on both sides of the aisle.

"Our students observed eye rolling, talking while another member was speaking and frequent reprimands by the Speaker," the Nov. 22 letter said.

School staff hoped the Nov. 5 visit would show the legislative process in a better light, the letter said.

"Instead students, teachers and parents were dismayed by the behaviour and lack of respect shown by our elected representatives," the letter said.

"In the short time we were in session, we witnessed members tell each other that they 'suck and blow,' motions across the floor from one representative to another inviting them outside to fight, verbal invitation to fight, and again, numerous reprimands from the Speaker."

Students who'd come to observe MLAs working to make Alberta better instead witnessed behaviour "that is not acceptable at school."

So, future field trips will be limited to the legislature building, not what actually happens there.

"We have reached this decision because we feel the experience contradicts our efforts to instill a sense of respect and a desire to become active participants in our representative democracy," the letter concludes.

[ Related: Three alternatives to Nathan Cullen’s ‘Civility Project’ for Parliament ]

CBC News said the existence of the letter surfaced when Speaker Gene Zwozdesky referred to it while issuing yet another reprimand to MLAs for rowdy behaviour during question period Monday.

Teacher Tom Stone said his students watched the performance with incredulity.

“A number of the kids looked at me in the legislature that day and said, ‘Are they allowed to say that?’” Stones told CBC News, adding students pointed out they wouldn't get to act that way in school without punishment.

When it came time to run a mock session of the legislature, one student asked "can I be the guy who asks the other guy to go outside and fight?" Stones said.

I sympathize completely. The first time I set foot in the gallery of B.C. legislature after covering a budget rollout, I was appalled at the way MLAs acted, as the Speaker tried to rein them in.

Heckling and well-aimed barbs flung across the aisle are as old as parliamentary democracy, but the quality has declined. Our country's parliaments do indeed often resemble a high school cafeteria bun fight.

Efforts to rebuild a sense of civility and decorum, such as B.C. New Democrat MP Nathan Cullen's Civility Project, have largely failed.

They just can't seem to help themselves.

Should we shield our children from this? No.

Instead, why not use it as a teachable moment. Explain this is one of the reasons many people no longer vote in elections or even run for office, and that the only way to improve things is to shame our elected representatives into behaving more respectfully toward each other. Then maybe people would respect them more.

There's no value in shielding the young from the reality of modern politics. It would be better that during the next field trip to their provincial legislature, if they witness pols behaving badly, they meet them at the door of the chamber and explain exactly how they feel about it.