VICTORY!! THE BOARD HAS OFFICIALLY DECIDED TO KEEP OPTIONAL ATTENDANCE AND PROTECT OUR SPECIALIZED PROGRAMS!! I AM ABSOLUTELY THRILLED THAT OUR HARD WORK PAID OFF AND SAVED THESE INCREDIBLE OPPORTUNITIES FOR ALL STUDENTS!! WE ARE GOING TO KEEP A CLOSE WATCH TO MAKE SURE IT STAYS THIS WAY FOREVER!!
December 16, 2017
Final supporters
TDSB’s Enhancing Equity Task Force would like to phase out optional attendance, the mechanism that gives students the choice to go to programs outside of their assigned “home school” and that gives them access to specialized schools and programs such as Claude Watson, IB, SATEC and much more! Although the latest proposal doesn’t mention phasing out specialized schools and programs, it does not explain how they could continue to accept students from out-of-catchment without optional attendance. Nor does it explain how all students across TDSB could access these programs. Instead, they would like to implement opportunities in local school clusters.This would effect thousands of students and teachers across the board and would jeopordize some of the most prestigious programs, not only across Canada, but in North America. Once this is implemented, optional attendance will also be phased out. These new programs that would be implemented would either be worse in quality or require more funding. The reason the current programs are so successful is because of the passion and devotions that went into the creation of them. Their reputations have been built up over many years. This petition is to allow the voice of students, teachers, and parents to be heard!
Updates
Reached 5,000 supporters
October 22, 2017
Reached 1,000 supporters
October 21, 2017
Reached 100 supporters
October 20, 2017
2,353 Comments
This would be a devastating loss. There are students who are alive today because of schools like this. What the committee is forgetting is that these schools are a safe haven for students who often went through hell until they entered their programs.
Specialized schools are in line with equity. In respecting and honoring diversity we create inclusion and promote excellence Shirley Katz, Ph.D Former student of TDSB Specialized Program and Academic Researcher on the subject of School Success
I am a product of French immersion, Claude Watson and the gifted program. The TDSB specialized programs have shaped my career and my life outside in myriad positive ways. Please don't take these opportunities away from our youth - especially CWSA!!
Until it means the TDSB is putting a qualified, competent music, visual art, drama and dance teacher (that's 4 teachers!) in every single high school to guarantee every kid has access to quality arts ed regardless of their school ... I'm not buying it.
I don’t see how taking special studies away from the students who have put in so much work to get there will help anyone else. The limited special resources would end up becoming so diluted across the much larger base as to be basically meaningless.
Specialized program is needed for kids with various talent just as programs are needed for autism kids
One size fits all is going backwards. Please keep specialized programs like Claude Watson School for the Arts as is. Torontonian can afford it.
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VICTORY!! THE BOARD HAS OFFICIALLY DECIDED TO KEEP OPTIONAL ATTENDANCE AND PROTECT OUR SPECIALIZED PROGRAMS!! I AM ABSOLUTELY THRILLED THAT OUR HARD WORK PAID OFF AND SAVED THESE INCREDIBLE OPPORTUNITIES FOR ALL STUDENTS!! WE ARE GOING TO KEEP A CLOSE WATCH TO MAKE SURE IT STAYS THIS WAY FOREVER!!
December 16, 2017
Final supporters
TDSB’s Enhancing Equity Task Force would like to phase out optional attendance, the mechanism that gives students the choice to go to programs outside of their assigned “home school” and that gives them access to specialized schools and programs such as Claude Watson, IB, SATEC and much more! Although the latest proposal doesn’t mention phasing out specialized schools and programs, it does not explain how they could continue to accept students from out-of-catchment without optional attendance. Nor does it explain how all students across TDSB could access these programs. Instead, they would like to implement opportunities in local school clusters.This would effect thousands of students and teachers across the board and would jeopordize some of the most prestigious programs, not only across Canada, but in North America. Once this is implemented, optional attendance will also be phased out. These new programs that would be implemented would either be worse in quality or require more funding. The reason the current programs are so successful is because of the passion and devotions that went into the creation of them. Their reputations have been built up over many years. This petition is to allow the voice of students, teachers, and parents to be heard!
Updates
Reached 5,000 supporters
October 22, 2017
Reached 1,000 supporters
October 21, 2017
Reached 100 supporters
October 20, 2017
2,353 Comments
Our daughter has been benefiting from a specialised alternative school, and we are not keen to see that change. As a family, we are ardent supporters of public education and of the TDSB, and we appreciate the TDSB's commitment to flexibility and variety.
This would be a devastating loss. There are students who are alive today because of schools like this. What the committee is forgetting is that these schools are a safe haven for students who often went through hell until they entered their programs.
Specialized schools are in line with equity. In respecting and honoring diversity we create inclusion and promote excellence Shirley Katz, Ph.D Former student of TDSB Specialized Program and Academic Researcher on the subject of School Success
I am a product of French immersion, Claude Watson and the gifted program. The TDSB specialized programs have shaped my career and my life outside in myriad positive ways. Please don't take these opportunities away from our youth - especially CWSA!!
Until it means the TDSB is putting a qualified, competent music, visual art, drama and dance teacher (that's 4 teachers!) in every single high school to guarantee every kid has access to quality arts ed regardless of their school ... I'm not buying it.
I don’t see how taking special studies away from the students who have put in so much work to get there will help anyone else. The limited special resources would end up becoming so diluted across the much larger base as to be basically meaningless.
Specialized program is needed for kids with various talent just as programs are needed for autism kids
One size fits all is going backwards. Please keep specialized programs like Claude Watson School for the Arts as is. Torontonian can afford it.
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Our daughter has been benefiting from a specialised alternative school, and we are not keen to see that change. As a family, we are ardent supporters of public education and of the TDSB, and we appreciate the TDSB's commitment to flexibility and variety.