Support specialized programs & schools made possible by optional attendance!

I feel that students including myself should have the right to study what they want and not have that taken away from them.

It is important that we keep thes programs as they are as they are working.

Phasing out specialized programs does not solve the issue of inclusivity. It can become very easy to cater to the lowest common denominator in the quest for inclusivity, which means instead of enabling the brightest children to succeed and reach their heights, they are being left to get bored in a classroom they will soon start to resent. The focus should be on improving the programs for the lower performing students so that they too can learn, catch up, and excel, instead of throwing them in a classroom where they cannot keep up with those who have built a strong educational foundation already

This school means so much to me its where I found some truly amazing like minded people.

The sentiments of the proposed equity policy are wonderful. Knowing the TDSB, the actual real-life implementation of this would be a disaster. To fully integrate all kinds of learners in one classroom you need incredibly passionate teachers (too many new teachers with the right skills for this multi-level learning can’t get a foothold in the door to teach right now ) you need smaller classes (try starting with a cap of 20 throughout all grades not just primary grades) and you need excellent educational support. That means more than just one teacher per classroom. If the TDSB has the money to spend on that kind of scenario and pay for upkeep on all their buildings and pay for current technology to be put into all classrooms all at once.... then I might believe in this proposal. When pigs fly...

I survived the education system because of my specialized program. it helped me become who I am.

I support more arts programs NOT LESS - and arts programs can help kids survive high school

As an alumni of an arts program high school, I find this to be a mistake. Why would you take this away?

cancelling these programs will destroy the talent of Canadian kids.

ESA and specialized schools are the reason many students are able to be successful in their future goals. Eliminating schools like this would not only be detrimental to the individual, but the community at large.

Why are they even trying to do this??

I don't even go to a tdsb school, but any kid in Toronto deserve their fair chance at opportunity✊

Arts school invoke change. Artists are passionate people with powerful voices that are best expressed when they are giving an outlet and encouragement! Phasing out art schools does not improve equity, instead it silences the voice of youth like myself. Etobicoke school of the arts is making many steps towards a more equitable environment. Why doesn't the tdsb know that? Because they are too busy sweeping things under the rug rather then getting up from the board room meetings, and coming to our school and see the magic we are doing. Change doesn't happen over night. There is more to the story than statistics.I don't know who I would be and what I would be doing if I didn't go to ESA but I do know the system most certainly would've failed me if I didn't have access to an arts specialtry school.

Do not do this

Why on earth is TDSB removing specialized programs even though we worked hard to get into them? Would all that hard work be deemed useless?

This is just inexcusable there is a very vast majority of children and teenagers that benefit from these programs like me I play on alot of teams and it helps relieve the stress of high school so please dont do it not just for me but for all the students. Christopher Mitchell

I’m not enrolled in the TDSB, but as an actor whose friends are in danger makes me sad, also arts help the community in so many ways

Don’t shut it down thx ily

What are you thinking? Taking away successful, vibrant, schools with creative options for high school kids...sounds crazy, right? It is!

Keep IB,gifted program.