Published Wednesday, May 26, 2021 11:01PM EDT Several Ontario school boards said Wednesday that they would be able to resume in-person learning with a few days notice if the government decides to send students back to classrooms for the last month of the academic year. Pediatric hospitals and doctors have been calling on the government to immediately reopen schools amid a decline in cases, saying in-person learning is crucial to children s well-being. The province s top doctor said Tuesday that he d like to see schools reopen as early as next week in some regions. The medical officers in Toronto and Peel Region said, however, that they were still watching to see if COVID-19 cases dropped further.
Premier Ford sends letter to doctors, scientists seeking opinion on reopening schools
by Lucas Casaletto
Last Updated May 27, 2021 at 3:40 pm EDT
Premier Doug Ford has issued an open letter to educators, scientists, doctors, and unions asking seven key questions in an effort to find a consensus as to whether the province can safely reopen schools for in-person learning.
In the letter, Ford says “no one wants to see our schools reopen safely more than I do,” adding that while his government understands the benefits of having kids return to class, it can only be done based on “sound scientific advice, consensus and considers potential or future risks faced by students and staff.”
Premier Doug Ford is ready to listen to opinions on whether schools should reopen this year. But get back to him by 5pm Friday.
The premier asked a wide range of Ontario professionals for advice about sending students back to school in an open letter addressed to unions, professional associations and public health units on Thursday. The call for advice comes with one month left of school before summer break for more than two millions Ontario students who have been studying at home for at least six weeks.
Many of those stakeholders Ford has appealed to have been increasingly vocal about both the lack of safety measures at schools and the dangers of keeping children home any longer. Ford s decision will affect the living and working conditions of families of more than two million school-aged children and youth in the province and those who work with them.
TORONTO Several Ontario school boards said Wednesday that they would be able to resume in-person learning with a few days notice if the government decides to send students back to classrooms for the last month of the academic year. Pediatric hospitals and doctors have been calling on the government to immediately reopen schools amid a decline in cases, saying in-person learning is crucial to children s well-being. The province s top doctor said Tuesday that he d like to see schools reopen as early as next week in some regions. The medical officers in Toronto and Peel Region said, however, that they were still watching to see if COVID-19 cases dropped further.
Instead of hiring, say, 66 frontline education workers to support students in classrooms & help achieve distance, this is what FordGov is tossing money at.
($2.5m/38k ave salary of @osbcucscso member = 66 staff)#onted#onpoli
Honestly, what world am I living in? Clearly there is no limit to what people will tolerate. School children will be treated like dogs and will be conditioned to be terrified of going near anyone.