There has to be a better way

Part-time learning, one of the options presented by Premier Ford and Education Minister Stephen Lecce for September will fail our kids, our families, working parents, and ultimately, the economy.

After months of uncertainty during this pandemic, providing three options with little detail, and asking school boards to come up with the rest, is a failure of leadership. Parents need more.

Medical experts are recommending children return to school full-time. As per the Sick Kids report, “It is critical that we balance the risks of Covid-19 in children, which appear to be minimal, with the harms of school closure which is impacting their physical and mental health. It should be recognized that it will not be possible to remove all risk of infection and disease.”

The past 100+ days have been incredibly difficult. Assuming that a parent will be available, with a screen for each kid, and high-speed internet, is not going to work for another round. Do the Premier and Minister know that some parents have had to travel to their school’s parking lot to access wifi to download assignments, and then travel back to upload them? That those kids miss all the online classroom meetings?

What about children who are in homes where they are witnessing and, in some instances, suffering from, domestic violence. Can we get them into school five days a week and reconnect them with trusted adults?

Children with special needs thrive on consistency. Can we provide that for them on a full-time basis?

And how can we care for Indigenous and racialized children whose communities have been disproportionately impacted by Covid-19?

Parents whose employers believe they will be able to work full-time without distractions are going to burn out (more than they already have!).

To say nothing of the single parents… how will they manage (how have they been managing?!?).

We can’t go on like this. Our kids will suffer. Families will suffer. The economy will suffer. With all the experts we have in this province, there has to be a better way! We can get kids safely into school full-time and create a safe working environment for teachers and support staff. It may mean creative thinking and resource allocation—but let’s try.

Take action! Contact the decision makers!

#Familiesneedschool. #Kidsneedschool.