THE PUBLIC EDUCATION SYSTEM IS IN CRISIS!
Our once-renowned public school system is under attack from Premier Doug Ford, Minister of Education Paul Calandra, and the Ontario Conservative government.
Under this Provincial government, our schools are being chronically underfunded, and the school buildings are deteriorating due to a backlog of repairs. With the current increasingly larger classroom sizes and the dwindling number of educational assistants, it is becoming difficult for teachers to ensure students are learning and receiving the fair and optimum education they deserve. Violence is on the rise in the classrooms, and students go to school in fear for their safety. Teachers are being stretched thin, resulting in frustration and burnout, with few resources available to them. While the Provincial government takes control of school boards and removes trustees from their positions, communities and families are left without a voice for their children’s education. The rationale for these takeovers is questionable at best, and reeks of future land sales of public resources. Premier Ford and Minister Calandra are setting students, teachers, and educators up to fail. This is unfair and needs to stop.
This deliberate act of underfunding of our school system by Premier Ford and Minister Calandra has put our school system in crisis, making it increasingly difficult for schools to adequately educate our children. The government’s solution to fix the issues they created only involves one step: privatization. Was this their intent all along? To defund schools and filter those taxpayer dollars into the Conservatives’ pet projects, leaving many children uneducated?
We must stand up to defend public education. This means advocating for students’ rights to be properly educated in an environment that safely supports them, understands their needs, and prepares them for success.
Our tax dollars must go back to our children’s education and not into this Conservative government’s pocket. Public education cannot thrive without real investments. We must protect our schools, students, teachers, and educators. OSSTF/FEESO has started a new public campaign about these issues, with the other education unions likely to follow shortly. OSSTF’s campaign can be found at: https://underfunded.ca/.
High school students are walking out in protest due to government cuts to OSAP on Wednesday, March 11th, at 12:30 pm in front of Victoria Hall in Cobourg. Lend them your support for their educational endeavours.
Please contact your local Member of Provincial Parliament (MPP) to express your support for public education. In Northumberland, you can reach MPP David Piccini at his constituency office by calling 905-372-4000 or by emailing david.piccini@pc.ola.org.
For assistance, you can also contact the Minister of Education, Paul Calandra, at 416-325-2600 or by email at paul.calandra@pc.ola.org. Additionally, you can reach Premier Doug Ford at 416-325-7635 or via email at doug.fordco@pc.ola.org.
