There has been an uptick in children needing supports in our public school system in Toronto. As someone who grew up going to school in North York and now as a parent with children attending school, I could not help but notice how much things have changed.
POST PANDEMIC
It’s been 6 years and yet we are still experiencing remnants of the pandemic in Public Schools in the city. Local schools in Toronto that once had open cafeterias, excursions to Mono Cliffs are now things of the past. The lack of activity and resources for students today is a constant reminder of what began 6 years ago.
Schools are operating 6months without a School principal and students seen struggling in classrooms where they had gone 2 months without a math teacher to teach the mandatory math courses in Toronto high Schools. These are things I never experienced as a child but now am witnessing our upcoming generation struggling through the budget cuts.
The design of the schools in TDSB did not support proper air circulation and during winter months parents of children attending school, walked into a kindergarten classrooms that was ice cold. The teachers justified keeping the windows open in frigid weather to circulate air even in the coldest months of winter.
Cafeterias are not functioning at full capacity. Students used to purchase fresh cooked meals at an affordable price directly from the school cafeterias in middle and high schools, now only on specific days the school may order food from local restaurants and sell at a costly price and serve in cafeteria.
Lack of EA (education assistants) in the classrooms
Due to a lack of educational assistants available, many parents face challenges sending their kids to school specifically those with autism. The ford government boasted an inclusive classroom environment, increasing class sizes, but how can we support inclusion if not all children are able to attend due to lack of funding? Children with autism are being pulled out of the public school system because parents cannot keep their employment constantly being called by the school and being told there is not EA available in the classroom to support their child. This often happens the day off class and not prior. Parents are left scrambling in the last hour before work begins to make alternative childcare arrangements where possible.
Unqualified individuals are being hired for EA positions and one EA is pushed from classroom to classroom leaving vulnerable kids with autism to fend for themselves as classroom teachers will not step in to support individual needs.
A parent shared that they had sent their child with autism to school in Peel region. The only assistance the child required was zipping up a coat and escorted to the bathroom. The child who was potty trained and independently using the toilet started coming home with soiled clothing. When the child was asked what happened the child verbalized that nobody showed them where the bathroom was and they could not find it which lead to the child soiling themselves. Another instance where the child was made to stay indoors during scheduled recess because nobody would help him zip up his coat. A simple thing, very minimal assistance but again a classroom teacher will not do these things but an EA is required to assist with these tasks. The child regressed in school due to lack of supports and then was homeschooled and doing much better but at the expense of the parents career!
Schools are also telling parents that they do not have anymore space for children with autism. They say this with a warning letting parents know that although they cannot say this they are letting them know because they don’t have the supports available due to funding.
Many parents have to give up their primary income to support their children with special needs at home because the government continues to pull funding from our schools instead of strengthening the supports needed.
Link obtained from a global news article regarding budget deficits below:
Ontario school boards record more deficits a year after supervisors sent in
Why not offer EAs full time work? Why are their shifts split? EAs in public schools typically work 8-11:30pm and 1130-3pm. They also cannot support individual children during lunch hours who would require supervision during meal times.
Some children with autism need support during lunch hours with encouragement to eat and drink fluids. Some children have poor dexterity and need help opening items in their lunch and packing away their lunch.
DELAYS IN INDIVIDUAL FUNDING FOR ONTARIO FAMILIES
Currently the OAP is processing applications received in 2021. Many children will age out of the program before they could receive any funding to support their needs.
As a parent of a child with autism I am also aware of the challenges and can relate to many parents who have shared their struggles with me over the years.
Does this sound very supportive or inclusive? Your voices matter!
Like
Comment
Share