Support specialized programs & schools made possible by optional attendance!

I am a student at Claude Watson and I can say so many great things about being there. Music and arts are really important to all the students here and we would hate to have it all taken away from us. I have really learned so much from Claude Watson and the teachers here are so amazing. I really hope that future generations can also enjoy these programs. Many studies show that the arts can improve your learning, so if the TDSB really wants to create "equity" in schools then they should change their crummy curriculum to include more arts. Our school is succeeding in many areas that other schools are not and if the TDSB really wants to change something I think they shouldn't take away from great students who worked hard to get into the special schools but add to make other schools better.

This is rediculous ideas. Programs to get likeminded students together help individuals thrive

ESA was a safe space before we knew what that term meant. It has created thousands of passionate and engaged Canadians. We might not all have become professional artists, but what I learned in those years shaped my life. ESA gave me personal value, self-respect and tools for expression. To lose this treasure would be more than shortsighted, it would betray the TDSB's mission to create responsible members of society.

As an alumni who went to Claude Watson, I would be very disappointed if the program was removed as it provided many opportunities for young artists and musicians.

Keep Claude Watson, its an amazing arts school, and I go there. DO NOT REMOVE THESE PROGRAMS!!!

The TDSB should keep all its special programs. This is nothing related to discrimination. It is aimed to educate our children who has some special advantage. It is just like a basketball team training athletes for possible national team players, or a medical school training our future physicians. It is designated for our country's future. Can we cancel our sport team or medical school just because people who cannot join them will feel upset? Our country will regret this decision in the long run if TDSB decides to close our special programs.

My son and daughter both thrive in the arts, and I truly believe getting rid of the arts programs would be a terrible mistake.

Not all the kids are the same, TDSB should understand this simple truth.

Another "great" recommendation from the special interest groups (i.e. educationist academics, educational theoreticians and other from the "progressive" cliques) who controls education in Ontario. The more they improve our system, the more it fails.

Please don’t phase out specialized TDSB programs!!!

This phase out is very short sighted. Hopefully Dr. Malloy will revisit this decision and realize how important these programs are.

Elena told me to

My grandson is in Gr. 12 at Etobicoke School for the Arts. It is perfect for him there and he could and did not succeed in regular high schools.

This is horrid! Smarten up TDSB.

The strategy proposed is a huge mistake. This proposalwould hurt many people without helping anybody. Strongly against!

Stupid idea. Improve the bad schools instead of messing with the good ones, duh

Dear TDSB,I support equity in education . ButI believe the best way to achieve this is by providing equality in education opportunities ,not by phrasing out these established special programs ，which run very successfully for many years and have cultivated so many talented people to the society 。 To my understanding ，the purpose of a good education is to help every kid to fulfill their potential. Each kid has a unique endowment . Therefore education program can not be one size for all. That why TDSB run different programs according to different needs now . To phrasing them out would be big setback ,which is so incompatible with today's society believes. To enhance equity task force,TDSB should focus more on equal opportunities ,like more school programs to enable each kids has opportunity to get to know all kinds of topics needed. By knowing these they can be more positive in learning and determine what kind of things they want to accomplish. We parents, don't think it is practical to let teachers not only taking good care of majority of the class but also focusing on those kids with so many different characteristics and talents who are already cultivated on their tracks so well by current program.Because of the genetic differences,these kids tend to feel lonely,cornerd in normal class and are very easy to develop depression . It is so not fair . Whatever talents the kids born with, and no matter How happy they are or how well they are growing in current program , they have to level themselves with the surroundings??!! In this way, not only we can not achieve the equality goals but also lower the kids passion for Persuing personal goal. In short, we as parents, are strongly against the education proposal that special programs should be phrased out of TDSB. We support the equality in education ，however TDSB should take different approaches to achieve it.

I said what I needed to say in the official feedback form -- the bottom line is, equity and the availability of specialized programs are not mutually exclusive. Improve access without destroying fantastic programs.

So many students benefit from these programs! Please don't reduce everything to the lowest, bland, common denominator. Students being allowed to follow their passions in the arts, math, sports....helps keep kids engaged. So short sited.

These programs motivate students and provide them with opportunities to develop and celebrate their unique talents. Make more of these programs and make them accessible to all, don't phase them out. We wouldn't take away French Immersion so why take away Claude, ESA, TOPS, MaCS, etc..?