Support specialized programs & schools made possible by optional attendance!

Dear Trustee,   We, a group of parents in Richmond are, we strongly disagree with the proposed changes to eliminate the disparities of schools. On the contrary, we believe competition and varieties should exist to meet the different needs of the students. General schools should be encouraged to learn from those successful programs and improve their quality of education. Eliminating those wonderful programs is harmful to the existing public education system.   Another concern is how practical the proposed changes are. Are teachers well prepared? Are students well prepared? Are schools well prepared? It is not a trivial to ask teachers to teach students of all levels. The economics of scale tells us it's always cost efficient to educate students with similar needs as a group not individually Does TDSB have the extra resources and expertise to scatter them among different schools? Are there any North America City implement similar changes in their education system? And what are the results or feedbacks? We certainly don't want our kids be the guinea pigs, as these decisions will have significant impact on their future development.   With the intention to attract high tech companies and booster local economy, Ontario just strategically decided to increase 25% STEM graduates over the next 5 years. In our opinion, TDSB needs more schools specialized in science, arts to better prepare students for future needs. TDSB should increase the number of specialized schools instead of eliminating them so more students have opportunities.   People have different ability levels, and the needs of children with greater ability also need to be accommodated. Equity doesn't necessarily mean treating everyone the SAME way, it should mean equal consideration and accommodation for ALL the students, including both fast learners and slow learners. It is ridiculous to sacrifice the needs of these talented kids under the name of equity just to make some people feel bette

These schools are a vital part of educating the next generation of kids who have talents and gifts not recognized by their peers or some of their teachers and who find their way back to motivation and discipline and thrive. My son would not be who he is today had he not had these opportunities.

I strongly disagree with the proposal to phase out specialty programs. My son has thrived tremendously in TDSB’s Gifted program . Earlier he was disengaged and not sufficiently challenged at school. The Gifted program offered him like minded peers and self motivated learning. Different students have different learning needs and it simply does not make sense to get rid of specialty programs.

My son loves gifted program. Before getting into this program, he had no friends and was lonely and unhappy. Then after he is in the program, now he has many friends, his social skills improves a lot, every day going to school is not painful for him any more. Please keep these special programs, let kids surrounded by their kinds, don't let them alone again.

dont cancel those programs,you will destroit kids lifes

Rosedale Heights shaped my future and I wouldn’t be anywhere near as successful in post secondary without an arts education. Furthermore it allowed me to travel away from my district schools which have severe underlying issues with homophobia and come out in an arts-positive space. Gutting specialized programs would have turned my highschool experience hellish.

This can not happen. Kids thrive at specialty schools. There should be more of these schools, not less.

I strongly suggest that the recommendations be abandoned. Equity is not about eliminating special programs, it should be about giving different students different education methods to reach their full potential.

Creative arts are so important and we should do whatever we can to encourage our kids to stay engaged. Keep ESA open!!!!

without these programs, I and many people I know would not be in the positions we are in today. I would not have gone to post secondary, I would not have had access to programs I needed to help me cope in an educational setting, I would not have done well in my life period. Casting out students who need these programs moves everyone backwards. This is incredibly shameful.

I can't see any benifit to cancel the programs.

Different educational programs are needed for different type of students. Equal opportunities should be based on students' need - not on standards.

Phasing our of school? Why the TDSB has never thought about how to improve teaches’ skills and balance the good resources to all schools.

Transferring to arts school spared me from social ostracism and bullying. Speciality learning environments exists to protect and encourage students of all capacities and gifts, not to elevate them as superior to their mainstream peers. Save them!

Taking away these programs stops people's process and progress within the arts, and with doing that, you will loose many artist and students who will not have a career because they will drop out feeling they can't do what they love to do in school. Please think about the students first before buget cuts and pushing away such important programs

My child had a fabulous and well rounded education at Earl Haig in the Claude Watson program. She would not have done as well in a non arts school. We are all different with various needs.

Smart and hardworking kids from those family who cannot afford expensive private school tuition should have a good public education which can help them to achieve their goal. They need a much more challenging class from mediocre education. Please keep special program and don't take away their hopes!

To destroy something that works so well is tragic. The correct thing to do is to extend the program not kill it

Schools such as ESA gave me hope. I wouldn't have graduated high school without the specialty programs. Save them now.

Please consider and respect the different developing pace of individiuals. Special Education for gifted students helps the children dig deeper and explore wider topic in the class. Many alike minded children get together in gifted program, which helps them in social, emotional development too. I am definitely against to cancel specialized education in Toronto school board.