I want to take a break from my study of trustees as effective leaders for a moment to say a word about families. My reasons for this come, first of all, from the opportunity to speak yesterday to the Probus Club of Abbotsford, and secondly, because of an editorial I read in this week's Maclean's magazine.

Often sponsored by Rotary International, Probus Clubs cater to the interests of retired or semi-retired professional or businesspeople. They asked me to speak about living positively and with enthusiasm. I suggested to them that one key to doing this is to create a mission and vision.

My own mission and vision are formed by my Judeo-Christian heritage. I believe passionately in the family unit as the key building block of society. I am equally convinced that we are called by God to pursue justice and to love mercy. Both of these convictions inform my worldview, my decision-making, even my choice of vocations, and how I use my resources.

My belief in doing everything possible to help build strong family units was reinforced by the material I mentioned from Maclean's (October 17, 2011, p. 4), from which this excerpt is drawn:

Marriage may not matter as much as it once did to young couples. But it matters a lot to society at large.

Married couples are a foundation of the economy. They earn, save and spend more than their unmarried counterparts. They are happier. And a mountain of evidence shows stable two-parent families are good for kids. Children who grow up in a married family are far more likely to succeed in school, find employment and avoid problems later in life than those raised in other situations, however loving.

There is only so much that a school district, a local school, or a teacher can do to aid this process. But one thing that we must never forget--parents are ultimately responsible for their children's education, indeed, their well-being in all aspects of life. Therefore, we must listen to parents when they express their views on educational matters. This is why I believe that the District Parent Advisory Council should have a role in school district decision-making. There are times when I might think that there is a better alternative for children than what their parents do. But if parents have all the facts at their command to make a valid decision (e.g., a one- versus two-week spring break), and vote overwhelmingly in a certain direction, I won't be the one who decides otherwise. Not all of my trustee colleagues believe this.

Secondly, in the Judeo-Christian heritage, justice is defined as having a particular care for those most open to exploitation, the vulnerable and the marginalized, those willing to put forth effort but not always able to do so. In our society such individuals are often overlooked, even shunned. 90% of all Down Syndrome unborn babies are aborted. I believe that every person, no matter what their challenge or lack thereof, is a full-orbed person and a full-fledged member of society who deserves to be educated to be all that they were meant to be.

For that reason I strongly support all programs that push resources in this direction; e.g, special education, ESL, Strong Start, and making schools safe and pleasant places to be. Many students come from homes with no books. We must build strong libraries and push literacy. Many families could never afford music or swimming lessons. But we can make them part of the curriculum. Fine Arts, technical programs, sports academies--all are ways to provide children, and particularly less fortunate children, with opportunities they would never otherwise have to be happy and productive citizens.

I had a trustee colleague who was dead against things like ski trips for students, complaining that they had no educational value. Nonsense. They teach lifelong skills and the value of fitness. They provide an alternative to what is available on the street. They keep kids in school. Such programs are a vital part of the bigger picture, my overarching vision as a trustee and former professor--education for a life worth living.