{"id":34980,"date":"2020-08-04T09:55:34","date_gmt":"2020-08-04T13:55:34","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wawa-news.com\/?p=34980"},"modified":"2020-08-24T13:33:35","modified_gmt":"2020-08-24T17:33:35","slug":"news-from-the-park-back-to-school","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/wawa-news.com\/index.php\/2020\/08\/04\/news-from-the-park-back-to-school\/","title":{"rendered":"News from the Park – Back to School"},"content":{"rendered":"

I have an uncle that I love dearly who has always been extremely supportive, especially since I joined the world of politics.\u00a0 He stays abreast of what\u2019s happening in Algoma-Manitoulin in the news and comments on this weekly column from time to time.\u00a0 He\u2019s a wonderful fellow with a great sense of humour but he does have some pet peeves.\u00a0 One of them has to do with people\/businesses jumping the gun and getting too far ahead of themselves.\u00a0 One big one he\u2019s had for years was a certain national retail catalogue that used to deliver its catalogues earlier and earlier.\u00a0 You could hear his roars about getting the Christmas Wish Book in July or similar out of season early publications.\u00a0 The same thing would happen if a local store started putting up Christmas decorations before Trick or Treaters have even knocked on his door.<\/p>\n

Well at the risk of pushing my uncle\u2019s buttons, this week I am raising the issue of \u2018Back to School\u2019 while it\u2019s still July. \u00a0In truth, by the time he finishes reading this week\u2019s column, I think he will understand why I\u2019m raising this issue at this time.<\/p>\n

During this pandemic, parents have had their hands full juggling parenting and making sure school-age kids keep up with remote learning, all the while managing their own workloads and responsibilities. \u00a0Ontarians can be proud of how we\u2019ve stepped up to the plate as a people when called upon.\u00a0 They deserve a provincial government that will step up with a plan for September and the funding schools need to protect children and their teachers from COVID-19.<\/p>\n

Like a cat, time has a way of creeping up on us.\u00a0 To date, Doug Ford and Education Minister Stephen Lecce have failed to provide a true plan or the funding necessary to ensure children and youth can return to schools and child care centres in a safe and supportive way.\u00a0 It\u2019s simply not good enough for a government to dump this monumental challenge on school boards without providing any additional resources or funding from the province.\u00a0 We\u2019ve heard a lot of talk from the Ford government about re-opening schools.\u00a0 But that is all it is – just talk.\u00a0 A solid plan was needed weeks ago<\/em>.\u00a0 And now, what parents need is real action and proper funding to get our children safely back in school.<\/p>\n

Medical authorities, mental health professionals, educators and child development experts have all told us that children and youth NEED<\/em><\/strong> to be in school full time<\/em><\/strong> – five days each week.\u00a0 This is a fact, not just best \u2018practice advice.\u2019\u00a0 It is necessary for their own physical and mental wellbeing and development.<\/p>\n

The NDP promised at the beginning of the last session to not only oppose<\/em><\/strong> but to propose<\/em><\/strong>, and we have stood by that commitment.\u00a0 We can\u2019t wait any longer.\u00a0 That\u2019s why, rather than just criticizing, we tabled a motion in the Legislature asking the Ford Government to implement an emergency action plan to help get children and youth safely back to class five days a week in the fall.\u00a0 Our plan includes:<\/p>\n