THREAD: Some thoughts on @SickKidsNews prompted by these quotes from their CEO!
TL:DR @ronald_cohn is saying class sizes generally need to be much lower than Ford’s plan, but Cohn/SickKids would benefit from political courage & perhaps some comms training.
#onted #onpoli
TL:DR @ronald_cohn is saying class sizes generally need to be much lower than Ford’s plan, but Cohn/SickKids would benefit from political courage & perhaps some comms training.
#onted #onpoli
1. In June, SickKids releases a half-baked report about 1/6th the length & 1/1000 the depth of the outstanding Harvard Chan report. It omits or glosses over things like age distinctions &, um, reality.
The incredible Harvard report is here: schools.forhealth.org/wp-content/upl…
The incredible Harvard report is here: schools.forhealth.org/wp-content/upl…
2. The SickKids report is also based on early research that some epidemiologists point out is flawed. It is strangely optimistic about risk to children both of the disease & transmission rates. It takes best case scenarios from research & makes them feel scientifically certain.
3. But here’s the thing — if another Gov was in power, one that actually cared about people, not just capital, this stuff could be hashed out.
The big error was releasing this half-baked doc into a world with a grudge-driven Premier & a bunch of conniving Harperites in shadows.
The big error was releasing this half-baked doc into a world with a grudge-driven Premier & a bunch of conniving Harperites in shadows.
4. Their report DOES value public education — something Ford does not do — pointing out that schools are critical for social development & wellbeing. They make the point that kids should be in class full-time.
5. The report spurs a mini-movement.
Parents are desperate for help. Work pressures are building and Ford has eliminated basic workplace provisions - like paid pandemic care leave - that would provide a buffer.
Parents are desperate for help. Work pressures are building and Ford has eliminated basic workplace provisions - like paid pandemic care leave - that would provide a buffer.
6. In other words, parents are feeling backed into a corner knowing that any part-time school plan that requires them to stay home without any legislated gov support is untenable.
Parents start to get vocal about this & organizing in a variety of ways.
Parents start to get vocal about this & organizing in a variety of ways.
7. At the time, we create & run #SafeSeptember with co-organizers OFPE & OEWU.
We point out that Ford is committing only 7¢/kid/day in COVID funding. We want safe, funded 5-day. Pressure is really mounting now.
On Jul 29, we run a ON-wide MPP office action on the same day as...
We point out that Ford is committing only 7¢/kid/day in COVID funding. We want safe, funded 5-day. Pressure is really mounting now.
On Jul 29, we run a ON-wide MPP office action on the same day as...
8. SickKids drops an update of its now-branded “living document”. It’s a bit better — now 1/2 the length/depth of the Harvard report — and hedges a bit more with its initially rosy view of the data.
If you did a word cloud with it, “may” would be first.
If you did a word cloud with it, “may” would be first.
9. Anyways, Doug Ford and his ever-the-opportunist Ed Minister Stephen Lecce predictably ignore any hedges.
They seize on the momentum started by the flawed first SickKids report & the those desperate for 5 days of care.
They seize on the momentum started by the flawed first SickKids report & the those desperate for 5 days of care.
10. Lecce directs Boards to shift from hybrid models to 5-days for elementary & many high schools. And of course, his Gov puts in 1/10th the funds required to make that 5-day model work.
11. So, we’re left with a plan that will lead to avoidable illness & death, and a likely 2nd wave.
In probable Ford-ian logic, a 2nd wave is cheaper than putting $3.2b in to do school right + $$ for income supports & paid leave. A second wave will be covered by the Feds again.
In probable Ford-ian logic, a 2nd wave is cheaper than putting $3.2b in to do school right + $$ for income supports & paid leave. A second wave will be covered by the Feds again.
12. Many immediately recognized this.
Ford’s plan abandons elementary students, ed workers, & community. It doesn’t recognize the serious ventilation issues that exist in many schools. It creates dangerous class size situations in high school in some areas, too. And bussing 🚌!
Ford’s plan abandons elementary students, ed workers, & community. It doesn’t recognize the serious ventilation issues that exist in many schools. It creates dangerous class size situations in high school in some areas, too. And bussing 🚌!
13. As the public started to recognize it, momentum & pressure built for the government to address this glaring, reckless flaw.
14. SickKids initially stayed silent on their cherry-picked updated document.
They then release a statement earlier this week that reads like instructions for picking cherries. No clear condemnation of Doug Ford’s plan.
Neutral tone.
A beige statement.
They then release a statement earlier this week that reads like instructions for picking cherries. No clear condemnation of Doug Ford’s plan.
Neutral tone.
A beige statement.
15. The public is left to read between the lines - literally!
Initially it did not feature class sizes as a consideration, then it did in a later version online!
Trusty!
Initially it did not feature class sizes as a consideration, then it did in a later version online!
Trusty!
16. So with this background in mind:
Yesterday, Cohn gives quotes to a Globe journalist that are technically true but so politically disengenuous when you’re dealing with a man like Doug Ford & his slippery sidekick Stephen Lecce.
Yesterday, Cohn gives quotes to a Globe journalist that are technically true but so politically disengenuous when you’re dealing with a man like Doug Ford & his slippery sidekick Stephen Lecce.
18. Yes, distancing is key and begets class size, but if you took most classroom dimensions + 2m distancing, 10-15 kids/class is where you’d land.
To say “we aren’t calling for 10-15 and some classes can handle more” is an unbelievably reckless thing to say.
To say “we aren’t calling for 10-15 and some classes can handle more” is an unbelievably reckless thing to say.
19. For the record, we do NOT believe the conspiracy theory he relays to @l_stone (interestingly, we hadn’t even seen it, just others’ concern around the big donors to SickKids — & we reserve comment about that)
but,
GET THIS MAN SOME POLITICAL COURAGE & COMMS TRAINING!!
but,
GET THIS MAN SOME POLITICAL COURAGE & COMMS TRAINING!!
20. Cohn/@SickKidsNews need to be making clear unequivocal statements that Doug Ford’s plan fails in THE KEY recommendation, among others!
Come on!! Lives are at stake!!!
Come on!! Lives are at stake!!!
21. And later, it appears he does start to move this way.
/END THREAD
/END THREAD
