Jasmine18
Senior Member
Whatever issues with cbc in general I do value the fact they give out free news online and it is not overly sensational and pretty decently moderate and balanced.
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- Thread starter animatronic
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AlbertC
Superstar
Nearly 200,000 people sign petition slamming Ontario's 'shameful' back-to-school plan
Monday, August 10, 2020
An online petition slamming Ontario's "disturbing" back-to-school plan has gained nearly 200,000 signatures but the government still won’t budge on reducing elementary class sizes this September.
Late last month, the provincial government released its back-to-school plan, which includes elementary students returning to the classroom full-time with regular class sizes.
Students will be with one cohort for the full day and enhanced health and safety protocols will be put in place.
"The Ontario government's 'plan' for reopening schools essentially amounts, in most elementary and middle school grades, to sending 30 students and a teacher back into a room for 6 hours/day with poor to no ventilation and probably only enough space for 30 cm of distancing between desks,” an online petition, titled "Ontario Demands Better: Reduce Class Sizes to Keep Schools and Communities Safe," reads.
"This is shameful and demonstrates a reckless and disturbing lack of care for the health and safety of our children, teachers, school staff, and communities."
"We have evidence from countries and regions that went back to school in the spring to show that it can be done safely, without a surge in cases. The evidence suggests that the way to do this (along with other measures) is small class sizes."
Monday, August 10, 2020
An online petition slamming Ontario's "disturbing" back-to-school plan has gained nearly 200,000 signatures but the government still won’t budge on reducing elementary class sizes this September.
Late last month, the provincial government released its back-to-school plan, which includes elementary students returning to the classroom full-time with regular class sizes.
Students will be with one cohort for the full day and enhanced health and safety protocols will be put in place.
"The Ontario government's 'plan' for reopening schools essentially amounts, in most elementary and middle school grades, to sending 30 students and a teacher back into a room for 6 hours/day with poor to no ventilation and probably only enough space for 30 cm of distancing between desks,” an online petition, titled "Ontario Demands Better: Reduce Class Sizes to Keep Schools and Communities Safe," reads.
"This is shameful and demonstrates a reckless and disturbing lack of care for the health and safety of our children, teachers, school staff, and communities."
"We have evidence from countries and regions that went back to school in the spring to show that it can be done safely, without a surge in cases. The evidence suggests that the way to do this (along with other measures) is small class sizes."
Petition bashing Ontario's 'reckless' back-to-school plan exceeds 200,000 signatures
An online petition slamming Ontario's "disturbing" back-to-school plan has gained nearly 200,000 signatures but the government still won’t budge on reducing elementary class sizes this September.
toronto.ctvnews.ca
Johnny Au
Senior Member
Let's not imagine phys-ed classes and recesses (including the lunch break), especially on days with inclement weather.
Games like tag, dodgeball, and Octopus (similar to Britsh Bulldog) would allow COVID-19 to spread, especially in gyms, and I'm not mentioning traditional sports yet.
Games like tag, dodgeball, and Octopus (similar to Britsh Bulldog) would allow COVID-19 to spread, especially in gyms, and I'm not mentioning traditional sports yet.
kEiThZ
Superstar
To be fair, we need to be careful about looking at this through an American lens. I suspect that people are thinking that schools reopening is going to turn into a full blown American Covid crisis. I trust our health professionals to do alright. And our schools are better resourced than the US.
If it was me, I'd argue that K-5 go back and take up every classroom available in small groups. 6-12 fully online at home. Emergency hire to make every available substitute teacher full time. Hire old retired teachers to run the online classes.
If it was me, I'd argue that K-5 go back and take up every classroom available in small groups. 6-12 fully online at home. Emergency hire to make every available substitute teacher full time. Hire old retired teachers to run the online classes.
Jasmine18
Senior Member
Unsure how the plan is disturbing
As
1.Wasn't this approved by health experts
2. this is already way more strict then bc and Alberta plans?
3. Plus don't parents have a choice to keep kids home ?
Like the plan is bc is less strict and I don't hear much blowback as much.
I do agree they should reduce the class sizes though in the short term. I think if that was fixed most concern would be gone.
As
1.Wasn't this approved by health experts
2. this is already way more strict then bc and Alberta plans?
3. Plus don't parents have a choice to keep kids home ?
Like the plan is bc is less strict and I don't hear much blowback as much.
I do agree they should reduce the class sizes though in the short term. I think if that was fixed most concern would be gone.
Northern Light
Superstar
You got the last part right..............class size is the biggest outstanding issue.
Your #1 is simply wrong.
A plan was commissioned...........the people who wrote said plan, ie. the President of Sick Kids, says the government is not following it, and class sizes are too large.
/https://www.thestar.com/content/dam/thestar/news/gta/2020/08/07/class-sizes-vital-to-curbing-spread-of-covid-19-in-schools-sick-kids-experts-say/dr_ronald_cohn.jpg)
Class sizes vital to curbing spread of COVID-19 in schools, SickKids experts say
SickKids president and CEO says he will not back a plan to reopen schools that does not ensure proper physical distancing between students.
As for BC, first, its a completely different plan; second, BC has almost 2/3 fewer active cases of Covid (at 3.7/100,000 vs Ontario at 9.3/100,000) that gives them a lot more wiggle room, both in epidemiological reality and in risk perception.
There's no accounting for Alberta, never will be.......LOL
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AlvinofDiaspar
Moderator
It doesn't take much - Israel was doing very well, better than us even until they opened the schools up.
AoD
kEiThZ
Superstar
Interesting. Didn't hear about that....
They do say that school will reopen in early September. https://www.nytimes.com/2020/08/04/world/middleeast/coronavirus-israel-schools-reopen.html
zang
Senior Member
Part of the issue there is the crowding of classrooms. We think 30 is big here. Israeli schools can have 40 kids packed into 50 square metres. That's in addition to the public school system having boarding schools, which means they're around each other 24/7.
zang
Senior Member
Bibi's an idiot just as much as Trump, btw...
(From June 3rd)
'It's an abrupt reversal of the post-pandemic spirit in Israel as officials lifted most remaining coronavirus restrictions last week. With fewer than 300 deaths in Israel, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had declared victory in early May over the pandemic and last week told Israelis to go to restaurants and "enjoy yourselves."'
[…]
(From June 3rd)
'It's an abrupt reversal of the post-pandemic spirit in Israel as officials lifted most remaining coronavirus restrictions last week. With fewer than 300 deaths in Israel, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had declared victory in early May over the pandemic and last week told Israelis to go to restaurants and "enjoy yourselves."'
[…]
'Schools first began to reopen in early May, with classes staggered in smaller groups or "capsules" of students to prevent a wide outbreak. By May 17, limitations on class size were lifted.'
www.npr.org
After Reopening Schools, Israel Orders Them To Shut If COVID-19 Cases Are Discovered
At least 244 students and school employees have tested positive for the coronavirus in recent weeks, according to the education ministry. At least 130 cases occurred in a single school in Jerusalem.
www.npr.org
picard102
Senior Member
Problem is parents are eager for someone else to watch their kids while they are stuck working from home.
If they can't send them to school they'll be livid.
A number of parents in my group are choosing to keep their kids home. They are setting up learning pods. The ones who are sending their kids to school appreciate it and are hoping that class sizes will be reduced if some kids don't return to class.
W. K. Lis
Superstar
Nearly 200,000 people sign petition slamming Ontario's 'shameful' back-to-school plan
Monday, August 10, 2020
An online petition slamming Ontario's "disturbing" back-to-school plan has gained nearly 200,000 signatures but the government still won’t budge on reducing elementary class sizes this September.
Late last month, the provincial government released its back-to-school plan, which includes elementary students returning to the classroom full-time with regular class sizes.
Students will be with one cohort for the full day and enhanced health and safety protocols will be put in place.
"The Ontario government's 'plan' for reopening schools essentially amounts, in most elementary and middle school grades, to sending 30 students and a teacher back into a room for 6 hours/day with poor to no ventilation and probably only enough space for 30 cm of distancing between desks,” an online petition, titled "Ontario Demands Better: Reduce Class Sizes to Keep Schools and Communities Safe," reads.
"This is shameful and demonstrates a reckless and disturbing lack of care for the health and safety of our children, teachers, school staff, and communities."
"We have evidence from countries and regions that went back to school in the spring to show that it can be done safely, without a surge in cases. The evidence suggests that the way to do this (along with other measures) is small class sizes."
Petition bashing Ontario's 'reckless' back-to-school plan exceeds 200,000 signatures
An online petition slamming Ontario's "disturbing" back-to-school plan has gained nearly 200,000 signatures but the government still won’t budge on reducing elementary class sizes this September.toronto.ctvnews.ca
Will Doug Ford slam those 200,000+ as a "bunch of yahoos", if they aren't "yesmen" or "yeswomen" and don't agree with him?
zang
Senior Member
The mental health of children is a major concern. Our 7-year old daughter has really struggled with anxiety, outbursts of anger, anti-sociality, even minor self-harm since this all started. We've talked with doctors, have (literally) free access to professors of psychology and have done anything and everything we can. If all were fine with her, I'd happily say she could stay home. The longer this goes on however, the worse she's gotten, and the more she's declined. Even if it's a minor degree of normalcy that means wearing a mask all day long and keeping distant from others, being at school is still something that can ground her.
Ford's plan sucks. But there's still time to make it better and safer. His term so far has proven he is the king of backing down, after all. But superficial comparisons to what other countries have done isn't fair when a little scrutiny is applied.
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