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

As a faculty member at UofT and a beneficiary of a gifted program, I can attest to the great importance of having these unique opportunities for students to learn deeper into subjects and interact with like-minded students. Taking this away will drain the brain power at high school level that form the top science and engineering programs at our best universities, and will have long-term consequence in educating the most capable work force and advancing the knowledge economy.

Well, this is just crap.

Ridiculous!

THIS PROGRAM HELPS A LOT TO MANY TALENTED YOUNG PEOPLE WHO HAVE NO MEANS TO PAY FOR A PRIVATE SCHOOL

My son strongly disliked school until he started the gifted program. He loves being with like minded children. It would be a disservice to close the program.

These specialized programs were of paramount importance to 2 of my 3 children. What a disaster for students to lose these opportunities.

My child has only benefited from this program.

My daughter as been in the Gifted stream for the past 5 years, my son has just begun at an Arts school - the benefits to their schooling have been tremendous and to remove this from their lives would be devastating. In my opinion, these programs are absolutely essential to meet the needs of ALL students as they pass through the system.

Each child is beautifully different and unique. They each deserve to have their needs met whatever they may be. Children/people in general are not all the same. What works for one will not necessarily work for another. My daughter deserves to be challenged rather than bored in school.

as well as stop the split classes. Teachers need to give more attention to one grade.

My son attends the gifted programming at Broadacres. He went from being a struggling, unengaged student falling through the cracks in a normal class stream, to an excited, engaged learner happy to head to class and study hard. He is thriving in this special education program as are his peers. De-streaming the gifted programs will be detrimental to our children’s education and their young blossoming minds. You are educating the worlds leaders - please give them the best opportunities to excel and don’t destream enrichment programs.

Specialty programs, including the Gifted Program and optional attendance are crucial to ensuring that our children have access to education appropriate to their needs. Keeping our kids engaged in education is critical to helping them develop into happy and contributing members of society. I can emphatically say that the Gifted Program was a turning point in our son's educational experience and his social development. The teachers and differentiated approach allowed him to stretch and focus where he couldn't in the regular stream. Without the change in program, he would have been a strain on the regular stream and become disengaged from school, a short term and long term consequence.

The TDSB keeps lowering the bar for our children. No wonder the math scores, reading scores are so low. You have done a horrible job in teaching and supporting our children and now the few good things you do support you want to remove. As a parent with 2 children in the system I am very unhappy and I am strongly considering moving my kids to another school system.

Don't take away the good part of your program that works well to produce confident and competent graduates who will become leaders in our society.

I feel very strongly against the decision to remove the gifted program.. I am the nanny of two children who have started this year in the Broadacres gifted program... They have adjusted so well.. they are no longer bored when given homework.. they are being challenged to the ability that they should be... They truly enjoy the gifted program ... Children's education is extremely important.. all children should be challenged... but if this program by some crazy twist of fate is removed. The only people that will feel this unfortunately will be the children.. The children are the future, past and present ... yes fix the roads and whatever needs to be repaired.. but please do not take away a program/ education that will allow these children a chance to thrive and become who they are meant to be... thank you from a concerned nanny

Much more time is needed for public consultation before something like this is passed. The side effects in the system will be wide-sweeping, with extra costs and challenges both for the rest of a child's time in school, and if we get this wrong, the rest of their life. Teachers are ill prepared for what this will bring. It's unfair to students who need specialized services - whether they need special education programming for autism or learning disabilities or social communication challenges or giftedness (or have multiple learning differences like my child), and it's unfair to the whole class to assume a teacher can appropriately manage behaviours and differentiated learning needs. Kids with learning differences are already at a higher risk of depression, anxiety, dropping out, and suicide... they need support. When supported and engaged they will thrive. And truly psychologically gifted children (not just academically talented children) are the bright and innovative minds of the future - scientists, inventors, cancer-curers, astronauts, engineers. Why are we trying to stifle them by shoving a square peg in a round hole - typical classrooms do not meet their needs for depth and breadth of learning. Shame on us for trying to save a few bucks at the expense of children who have so much potential to shape the future if we nurture their minds and suppprt them. Yes, the system has some challenges but the proposal put forward is not the right solution.

When it’s considered great to provide special academic programs for high-performing atheletes, how can we miss our intellectually gifted students? Is it because of the word ‘gifted’? Giftedness is a special need. Just like you wouldn’t refuse special programming in the bottom 2% of the bell curve (those with learning disabilities, for example), how can you refuse specialized academic programming to those in the top 2%? Their needs are as different from average as the other end of the spectrum. Their intelligence will not compensate for the wrong educational fit. Many of those with IQ scores in the top 2% are also those with learning deficits or learning disabilities. They struggle to stay afloat without programming that differentiates for their needs. The wrong educational fit can cause depression, anxiety, stress and suicide in those highly gifted? Is this how we choose to ‘treat’ our brightest minds? Many are wrongfully medicated to help them tolerate an educational environment that was never meant for them. These little ones are as deserving of specialized programming as any other special needs students. Our identification process already is biased towards professional families with higher income. It is not an equitable process. It needs more resources put towards it, rather than fewer. Yes, municipal governments have limited financial resources and must choose wisely between programs. Programs that serve a much smaller population than regular programs are the first to go. However, just because the gifted population is small, their needs can not be set aside. I worry about the future of a society and community that seeks to shut down its brightest minds. The minds are bright - if and when we let them shine. These bright minds - become depressed minds, sad minds or anxious minds - if they’re forced to fit into a round hole - when they are square pegs.

Happy to sign this. These decisions involve a balance of interests ... but by the same token, there should be more balanced input before making a decision.

Special programs are very important to meet the needs is special students.

My son would be lost without the gifted program. Please keep it!