Parents, teachers and local area representation were present in Kapuskasing to discuss the effects of recent education cuts.
Mushkegowuk-James Bay MPP Guy Bourgouin called the public invitation to speak one’s mind a chance for him to gather names and physical proof of the issues people have with recent decisions made by the Ford government.
Kindergarten Teacher at Ecole Catholique Jacques-Cartier France Valliere was present for the meeting to speak with teachers and parents who are concerned with the recent announced changes such as larger class sizes and loss of special education positions.
Valliere says it is unbelievable the detriment these cuts will cause to kids’ futures.
“Because it’s the future of our kids, it’s unbelievable how much then kids are put at risk with all the cuts that are coming. I have 27 kids in my class so I have 1/27th of the time that I can spend with each kid and that’s not alot of time in the day.”
She says so many steps forward in education are now being erased by these cuts.
“We were doing so much progress in our schools with the kids, the smaller kids, and we feel that what are they going to do in 10 years when they get to Secondary school if they haven’t had that attention and they haven’t learned everything that they are supposed to learn there going to be back a year? Two years? Three years? Compared to now? That’s what I am worried about.”
Valliere is also worried that these cuts will ‘close their (students) minds by shutting them up’ because students are fighting for education rights they are entitled too, but are being told they can’t have.
She says she is almost glad to be retiring, considering the immense mess that the education system is going through at this time, but she is very worried for the future of students.
Bourgouin meanwhile is hoping that all of the petitions signed on the day, and petitions he hopes to gain from another similar meeting to be held in Hearst will be brought back to Queen’s Park to be directed towards the minister of education. That way bringing a voice to the messages of hundreds of displeased parents and teachers.
For more info on how to sign a petition you can contact Bourgouin’s office.
