STOP the TDSB EETF: NO to De-streaming; NO to Cancelling Specialty Programs; NO to Cancelling Optional Attendance; NO to "reforming" Gifted Programs

As parent on "included" special need child, I can clearly see the utter failure in addressing his needs in mixed classroom. This never worked and will not relief discrepancy with disadvantaged groups, only get everybody into mediocre classrooms with stressed teachers. Please stop playing race card and start acknowledging differentiated learning.

Disgusting.

PLEASE do not rush into change. there is far too much to loose. Our future deserves the best education possible for our children and we are entrusting you with these decisions. The Specialty programs, Gifted programs, optional attendance and streaming help to cater to the uniqueness of student, encouraging them to grow in ways that are individual to each person. This leads to a much stronger and balanced society in the future.

Concerned parent of TDSB Grade 10 student

I am the mother of a grade 10 boy in the gifted program and a grade 12 transgendered child at Rosedale Heights School of the Arts. The Arts school was particularly helpful in making my trans child feel welcome and included. My younger boy loves his gifted classes and the opportunity to be with kids more interested in school than being cool. While I appreciate that many kids from poorer families do not participate in the opportunity to have their children in these special programs, perhaps this could be fixed by proactive teachers who reach out to parents of children not being served in the one size fits all program, rather than killing special programs for kids who do not fit into the regular stream.

My daughters were served well by gifted programs and would have had a problematic and unstimulating TDSB experience without them.

Unfair and discriminatory against Gifted student. The EETF is suggesting that all children learn the same and have the same level of intellect.

Denying gifted students of a specialized education will only lead to a worse future for all of us.

Specialty programs are important.

Gifted children need a different education, tailored to their needs.

These programs are important.

By "killing" all those programs we will all follow the "convoy rule": everybody's speed will be dictated by the slowest ship.... Soon Canada will depend on foreign talent, because we are not willing to create, grow, and encourage our own children aspirations and talents.

Two years ago during grade 9 orientation for parents and grade 8 students, a math teacher urged, begged parents not to put their kids into Academuc math if they were struggling in the subject. That teacher said learning at a student’s individual pace is crucial to success in high school. Anxiety is chronic amongst high school students. They DO NOT need any more.

I am opposed to the plan to reduce and remove gifted and specialty programs, optional attendace in school. Please stop trying to fix what is already working and focus on improving the schools than needs that. Bringing everybody to the same, bottom level doesn’t do good to anybody

I am a gifted student at St.Andrews and I am denied optional attendance at Northern for gifted although I can apply for optional attendance in the regular program. This is discriminating against gifted, and doesn’t give me the options that students in the regular program receive. My brother attends gifted at northern in grade 11.

We have come so far in developing successful programs tailored to provide success in education for Toronto's public school system - don't change if it isn't broken. Director Molloy is just creating a "make work" project and is diverting resources/focus so that he can appear to save a system and "turn this ship around". Ego maybe?

We should keep all the special programs in order to encourage the children explore further as they could.

The TDSB EETF recommendations are shortsighted and won't help students achieve their full potential. Speaking as a former "gifted" school alum, the TDSB can, and must do better!

If one of the goals of the tdsb is to encourage students to be critical thinkers and self motivated, why get rid of a program that allows students to do just that. The gifted program allows students who are motivated and keen to be surrounded by peers who also have a hunger for knowledge. Specialized programs are needed for a thriving society. Accessibility and equal opportunity for all students are important, but why eliminate a program that fosters excellence and keeps advanced students motivated?

Smaller classes, no child is alike, all different and have different needs. This is asking for kids to become frustrated !