A recent decision by the Government's hand picked supervisor of Education has left many families in my community wondering how is it possible, that a popular 50-year legacy program to teach international languages, was cancelled overnight, behind closed doors, and without a single conversation with anyone affected?
They didn’t tell the students, they didn’t tell the parents, and they didn’t even tell the language instructors set to lose the job they love.
And yet here we are.
In my community, the students of St. Roch, St. Margherita, St. Simon, St. Andre, St. Jane Frances, St. Francis de Sales, St. Wilfrid, St. Jude and Venerable John Merlini, will no longer get to learn international languages like Italian and Spanish while other schools will lose Portuguese, Arabic, Tagalog, Mandarin and more. This program has been a part of the identity of these schools for generations, until now.
Thanks to the government, 20,000 students in schools across the Toronto Catholic District School Board are losing their international languages program.
All because of a secret decision, made by a hand-picked supervisor friend of this government, as part of their takeover of the school board.
Why? So they can make their malicious cuts to education and other core services, to find the money to fund their fantasy ideas that nobody asked for.
Parents deserve answers, and we are calling on this government to reverse this cut and immediately restore the international language program in all schools.
I was proud to have been joined by two parents from our community, Sabrina and Shundell, who represent the parents affected by the cancellation of this cherished language program. They joined me at Queen's Park for a press conference following the Government's announcement.
You can watch the full video here.
Please sign and share the petition below and contact my office at 416-743-7272 if you are able to volunteer with my office to collect signatures on this issue at your own school!
TO THE LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF ONTARIO,
WHEREAS the Government took over schools boards and appointed a hand-picked supervisor who is making cuts to our children's education; and
WHEREAS the Government’s Board Supervisor has cancelled a popular 50-year-old international language program overnight, behind closed doors, and without any consultation with the families or community affected; and
WHEREAS learning international languages is not only important in our diverse province so that people can maintain their heritage, but it is also a valuable opportunity for the future of our students in this increasingly global world of travel and trade;
We the undersigned petition the Legislative Assembly of Ontario as follows:
That the Government of Ontario immediately reinstate the International Languages Program in our local schools because our students deserve more, not less, valuable educational opportunities!