Support specialized programs & schools made possible by optional attendance!

The CyberArts program at Northview was great, it gave me the opportunity to hone my skills, discover my (career) path and real world experience. Do not phase out specialized programs because they can help kids and give kids something to be passionate about.

These programs are so important, please don't rob future children in Ontario of educational diversity and opportunities.

Specialized programs allow students to find their tribe and get a head start in their field of interest. Slashing these programs would be a loss for the students and the culture who needs their voices.

Do not phase out specialized programs or schools

We need these programs, you're dust

The arts program at Wexford has saved my daughter.

Tops is a great program and builds well rounded individuals and members of society. It would be destructive to take it away.

This is dehumanizing and uncivilized. Music more than any other medium connects people to their emotions and has been shown to enhance neurological function. Don't we want to have emotionally functioning adults?

Specialized programs offer a chance for people to find places where they belong. Their removal will cause harm, and be a loss of opportunity that students deserve.

Phasing out specialised programs is one of the worst decisions the TDSB can make.

2 out of 3 of my children went to Claude Watson and they have brilliant careers now. Please don’t shut down this school program!

Is eliminating schools really the most effective option here? Why not challenge schools individually to better serve those whose needs are not being met?

The Federation of Canadian Secondary Students | Fédération des élèves du secondaire au Canada (FCSS-FESC), also sent out of a press release over the weekend protesting the proposal and said the board should “investigate alternative solutions to educational inequity (that) support the improvement of underprivileged students and schools without limiting opportunities for others to learn and perform to the best of their abilities.” True equity and opportunity requires hard smart and effective work. And in 'my " school" kids are not privileged at all. Lets really work to provide smart opportunities for all of our kids. Not easy and not to be resolved with one task force. And apsolutely not clear what and who would benefit from closing these programs/schools. And zilions of other questions. Do nto close programs.

TDSB has greatly disappointed me with this line of thought. They are blaming specialized programs for disparity between schools, and think that by cutting these programs all schools will be "equal". Ridiculous, and sad.

Stop phasing out things should be giving our kids MORE not less.

I was a student at Etobicoke School of the Arts, and I can confidently say that it drastically shaped the person I am today and the career opportunities that I am now going into. ESA gave me a safe space to work on my creative talents, gave me an opportunity to excel and move forward with the arts after high school, and provided me with the chance to meet other people my age with the same interests. Please keep this school and other arts programs in high schools going.

Canada's arts sector begins with supporting programs like this. Were it not for going to an arts highschool, I likely would've been misunderstood, labeled a "problem" child, and dropped out. Instead I was able to graduate with top marks, embark upon an exceptional career in the arts, and get accepted into prestigious local and international PhD programs in my field. This is directly linked to the nourishment intensive, specialized, full-time programs gave me. Whilst very real systemic inequality was obviously present in the demographic of students at my school, the solution is not to close these spaces in which particular kinds of students can thrive--it is, rather, to increase support for arts in schools that are not receiving that support, to be attentive to equity processes in admittance to these programs and in faculty hiring, and to deal with systemic inequality at much earlier level of education.

NER I GO TO CLAUDE

This couldn't be more important. As somebody who attended a specialized arts high school, I know the difference it has made in my life. It would be a tremendous shame to phase out these schools which are enriching the lives of so many young people.

Taking away special programs is not equity it is equality and this is a false way to look at things. How are students who are above average or below average going to function in the regular stream where their needs are not met and/or provided for