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

Fairness is critical, however, having our schools focus only on the lowest common denominator is not moving in the right direction.

I am interested in equity and fairness. This is not a solution. Much more care and thought has to inform what changes we need to make to get there.

These programs are important! Quoting a comment below: "The future of education is to match the personalized need of each individual."

These programmes are needed. Do NOT cut them!

I think that "fairness" is fine as a guiding principle, but it shouldn't necessarily be the end goal (which is what the Enhancing Equity Task Force seems to be doing).

My son attends school under optional attendance. This school is a better fit for him than our "home school". Why eliminate this option if it's available? NO to De-streaming. NO to cancelling specialty programs. NO to cancelling optional attendance. NO to "reforming" gifted programs. All children are different and a "one size fits all" option would do a huge disservice to the future of our country. The EEFT recommendation is negligent and the TDSB would effectively be contradicting the very nature of their own mandate by implementing any of these proposals. NO.

I reject the TDSB EETF recommendations and request more time for feedback, broader re-consultation, and better options for the children within our community.

I oppose ending optional attendance.

I oppose ending the gifted program and ending optional attendance.

More consultation and quantitative data required in order to allow for evidence based decisions

This is ridiculous!!! This is not how you consult! So this property with open houses and time for people to read information and ask questions

Short sighted cuts are always wrong. Take the long view of childrens' and educators' success, please.

We need more diversity of programming to fit the diversity of our students. No to lowering the common denominator.

The future of education is to match the personalized need of each individual. Hope TDSB is not going backwards.

A seriously flawed plan based on politically motivated goals. Very probably bad for all students.

Do not penalize everyone if the program is imperfect.

No

Gifted programs contribute to the equity of the education system by meeting the special needs of a group of learners who are often not well served in the general classroom. Gifted kids are at risk of being under-stimulated in the classroom, which can lead to negative outcomes including boredom, disengagement from the learning process, school refusal, acting out, and seeking stimulation in inappropriate ways. Gifted kids also tend to “stick out” and may experience a sense of not belonging that can contribute to bullying, social isolation, low self-esteem and anxiety. None of these outcomes are good for the student or for the teacher or the other students in the classroom who may be affected by the child’s behaviour.

This has played a critical role in our son’s development.

As a parent of a student in the gifted program AND an elementary teacher with the tdsb.