To the Editor,

I am writing this letter as a concerned parent. I have reviewed the proposed education changes made by the Minister of Education, Lisa Thompson. I am concerned because I believe the changes will harm our students and make learning much more difficult.

I’ll start with class size. I cannot find any evidence that larger class sizes are beneficial for students or will lead to more “resilience.” What I did find was evidence supporting smaller class size.

https://www.ef.com/wwen/blog/efacademyblog/10-benefits-small-class-sizes/

https://www.classsizematters.org/research-and-links/

https://nepc.colorado.edu/sites/default/files/pb_-_class_size.pdf

I would love to see the minister’s evidence regarding this topic.

My second issue is with mandatory online courses. What if students don’t have a computer or laptop and schools don’t have enough computers, laptops or tablets? This will likely cost teacher positions as the courses will not need classrooms – will this affect the number of electives and extracurricular activities offered in schools? If so, which electives will disappear? Not all students can afford to participate in arts programs and sports outside of school. Not all students will be able to do online courses due to learning disabilities and other developmental issues. This is a horrible idea.

My third issue is the Education Quality Assurance Office (EQAO). The results of the online survey that was part of the province-wide education consultation shows that 37.05 per cent of respondents stated the ministry should get rid of EQAO, 9.19 per cent said they weren’t sure, 10.19 per cent said it should be given to a sample of students and 43.58 per cent said it should stay as is.

Fewer than half of respondents think the EQAO is worthwhile enough to keep as is. When asked when standardized testing should take place, 30.67 per cent said keep it the way it is and 29.07 per cent said never. That’s a 1.6 per cent difference. 51.92 per cent of respondents think the testing disrupts teaching by taking time to teach to the test, while 37.58 per cent think that testing improves education. Do you not think these numbers warrant further review? It’s hardly a majority of respondents that like EQAO. I believe about $31 million is spent on the program each year, which could be put back into education.

One of the issues I have the most trouble with is health and physical education. This was one of the big talking points during the election and the main reason for the province-wide consultation. The government promised to listen to parents on three specific points: gender identity, sexual orientation and varying family structures.

If you dig very deeply on the Ministry website, you will find the results. They are as follow:. Gender Identity – 68 per cent of respondents think it should be taught; 30 per cent said it should not be taught; 45 per cent of respondents think it should be taught before the age of 11. Instead, the government is delaying the topic until the second half of Grade 8. Sexual orientation – 73 per cent said it should be taught with 26 per cent saying never teach it. 46 per cent want it taught before the age of 11. Instead, the government is delaying the topic until Grade 8. Various forms of family structure – 75 per cent want it taught, with 23 per cent saying don’t teach it. 65 per cent of respondents want it taught before the age of 11. 55 per cent want it taught before the age of eight. It is being taught in Grade 3 (kids are generally nine in this grade). The government says it listened to parents and yet the survey results say they didn’t.

I for one would like answers. I have sent letters to Lisa Thompson, Doug Ford and my MPP, Marillee Fullerton. So far, I have received no answers. That is unacceptable. Our kids matter.

Sincerely, Dianne Bramble,

Carp.