Cuts Hurt Kids

 

Have you been watching the Olympics in Japan? It’s a real joy to watch these young athletes compete to be the best in the world. I taught in the public education system for 30+ years. I see something of the young adult olympians in the athletes I taught. With willpower and confidence they have made it to the pinnacle of their sport. Of course, that confidence had to start early, probably back when they were in school in Canada.

So what does it take to make a young person gain the confidence to become an olympian? Surely some of it comes from a stable and supportive learning environment at school. Having a teacher’s assistant to help you through a learning disability. Having a guidance counselor to help you make the best choices. Having a track coach with the time to put in that extra lap. Having a clean and well ventilated school to keep you healthy. Making programs as good as possible with board level support.

As I watch the Olympics I wonder what kind of success, what kind of confidence our youth will gain if we keep making cuts to education spending. The latest Ontario budget has allocated $700 million less than last year. The Financial Accountability Office says we are on track to a 12.3 billion spending gap by the end of the decade. Despite increasing enrolment and despite inflation, Ford figures it is possible to maintain our high standard of education in Ontario with cuts to spending? It does not add up. What effect are we having on our youth? What effect will this have in helping our youth build the willpower and confidence to be extraordinary in the future?

Andrea Horwath and the Ontario NDP are calling on Ford to stop cuts to education and instead bring in
  • A classroom cap of 15
  • Upgrades to ventilation systems to meet the latest standards and science on airborne transmission of COVID
  • Offering two-doses of the COVID vaccine to every teacher, education worker and student over 12
  • More in-class supports for kids with special needs or learning challenges
  • In-school mental health and wellness supports
Support our local riding & receive a tax credit return for your contribution! 

#miltonontario #NDP #ondp #education #educationmatters #budgetcuts

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