Protecting & Strengthening Public Education in Ontario
For the past two and a half years, teachers and education workers have been there for our students when they’ve needed them most. Now we need our government to do the same.
Students deserve the benefit that smaller class sizes provide.
Students deserve a well-resourced in-person learning environment.
Students deserve to have permanent access to the supports and services they need.
Students deserve a government that won’t cut corners when it comes to public education.
Key Issues
As we transition to a world in which COVID-19 causes less disruption in our schools, our students deserve a return to normalcy and a return to a public education system that fully supports their future growth and development.
Keeping Class Sizes Small
Studies have shown that when we keep class sizes small, we ensure better outcomes for our students. To ensure our students get the attention they desperately need coming out of COVID-19, we need to keep the educator-to-student ratios where they are and not increase class sizes.
If we’re going to give our students the safe, secure learning environment they deserve, we need to fix the over $16B repair backlog and ensure our schools have the ventilation, custodial & support staff, and resources needed to keep our students safe.
Two years of learning in a global pandemic has left many students struggling. With an emerging mental health crisis, our students need greater access to the academic, social and mental health supports critical to their well-being. That means ensuring our schools not only have the appropriate number of educational assistants, speech language pathologists, mental health professionals and other education workers needed to deliver those services, but ensuring those professionals are valued as vital contributors to a holistic public education system. Having school board employed support professionals immediately available in schools will help to ensure that students get the help they need.
Our students learn best when they learn in-person and have access to the individualized programs and professionals that support their needs. While hybrid models and emergency remote learning may have been necessary during the pandemic, we need government to commit permanent funding to a public education system that is equitable, in-person, and provides the supports, services, programs and personnel our students need to succeed.
Lori is an elementary school office administrator from Hamilton, Ontario. She know success in the classroom starts with caring and respecting students.
Susan
Speech Language Pathologist
Susan is a Speech Language Pathologist from Ottawa, Ontario. She knows the challenges some students face and worries that larger class sizes will mean less educator time for all students, not just those with special needs.
Sarah
High School English Teacher
Sarah is a high school English teacher from Ottawa-Carleton, Ontario. She helps prepare our high school students for post-secondary education.
I Support Protecting & Strengthening Public Education In Ontario
If we’re going to close the learning gap left behind by COVID-19, we need government to shore up and strengthen the supports and services our students need and commit to protecting the public education system that is the cornerstone of their success. If you agree, email your elected officials today to let them know what our students need.
Take Action
Join thousands of Ontarians who are committed to strengthening our public education system and are standing up for Ontario's Students.
