Public education in Ontario is under threat. How we, the people, must save it
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Loading... - Zada Adami
- 26 May 2022
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Public education is crumbling under Doug Ford’s Progressive Conservative government and there’s no superhero swooping in to save our schools. If it is up to us — citizens and guardians of children — to defend public education, protect the rights of young people, and champion healthy communities, how do we do it?
The answer is a two-pronged approach that activates our voting power in both the June provincial and the October municipal elections.
Public school parents and staff are well aware of the impacts on education under this government: cuts to education; schools left in disrepair, unlivable earnings for early childhood educators; COVID-19 response funding unspent while the youth mental health crisis soared; private schools prioritized over public schools for early access to taxpayer-funded rapid tests; and a thinly veiled plan to erode public education and privatize learning that benefits the wealthy and status quo.
Policies that diminish the quality of public education while stressing and oppressing families undermine democratic and equitable society. They will not, as we expect and hope, set our children up for success, particularly those from economically challenged and equity-deserving communities.
In the Toronto District School Board, a $3.7-billion school repair backlog continues to climb; staff and student absences are reportedly high; systemic inequities persist; and enrolment is said to be declining as families delay kindergarten registration, withdraw from the public system, or leave Toronto altogether.
Public school parents, caregivers and educators in Toronto understand the assignment. On June 2, vote for MPPs who support families and student learning with: achievable child-care plans; mental and dental health coverage; livable wages for education workers; increased funding for in-classroom learning with smaller class sizes; and by confronting the many systemic inequities, including racism and bias, in schools.
But remember, this is a two-part operation.
This October, we’ll return to the polls to elect a mayor, city councillors and, significantly, our school board trustees.
Trustees are rarely on the radar of voters.
This oft-overlooked vote matters because the 22 TDSB trustees representing geographic wards of the city hold responsibility for the budget, governance and accountability of the board. In doing so, trustees represent our many parent and community voices.
Regardless of who forms provincial government, TDSB trustees will continue to influence important decisions on a range of key issues including:
How schools handle masking and case reporting with government COVID protocols lifted;
• How new students are accommodated when condo development outpaces the capacity of local schools;
• How systemic and school-based incidents of racism and hate are confronted.
Parents and caregivers of school-age children, of course, have a vested interest in public school policies. But if the pandemic taught us anything (and it taught us a lot) schools are integral parts of communities that impact us all.
The Ontario Municipal and School Board Guide states:
“A strong publicly funded education system is not only a cornerstone of democracy, it is essential for a healthy, thriving economy and caring society. The innovation, skills, values, and healthy attitudes that are fostered in our schools … have a direct impact on growing our economy and making our diverse and inclusive society among the very best places in the world to live”
Thus all of us — aunties, godparents, community leaders and caring adults — have a responsibility to our children; our future adults and society.
On Oct. 24, we must complete part two of the approach by electing trustees who will listen to and prioritize the educational rights of children across socio-economic status, race, abilities and more. And if we have failed at part one, be advocates in the face of a conservative re-election.
If you’re feeling wary of politics and tired of elections, I get it. But another four years of increasing school repair backlogs, mental health crises, barriers to program access, and human rights violations would be utterly damaging. Read More...
