1) Okay, so the Ontario Gov't just announced parents would get $250 per kid to "enhance learning". Let's look at one example of what that money could do if it was directed to schools instead of used as a political bribe to parents.
2) One of my kids is in Grade 10 at Northern Secondary School in Toronto. Northern is a big old high school in midtown Toronto. I was there twice this week. Once to see my kid's volleyball game and again for parent teacher interviews.
3) Northern can only be described as a bit "run down". It could use some maintenance and a coat of paint. The physical plant is old and tired.
4) But it has a group of dedicated staff that work hard with what they have. At the parent teacher interview this evening, my kid's math teacher tells me he has over 30 kids in his class. Not ideal but pay attention to the math that follows.
5) The TDSB sets a "school budget" which it allocates to each school to supplement funding for such things as music, art, athletics, libraries, student aid etc. The line item budget for Northern is here: tdsb.on.ca/About-Us/Busin…
6) For Northern, this budget totals $373,000 for the 22/23 school year. To be clear this budget doesn't cover things like teacher and staff salaries, heat, light etc. This is extra money given to schools by the TDSB that is designed to enhance the student experience.
7) Extra cash for the library, music, arts and sports programs and other stuff. All good, welcome and needed. Northern has around 1700 students. Parents will receive $250 per kid. Therefore collectively the Gov't will pay parents of kids at Northern $425,000.
8) If that money was paid directly to the school, that would more than double the annual TDSB school budget for Northern. So more $ for the sorts of programs that are listed in the budget. Or the schools or school boards could pay for more teachers, Ed workers and other staff.
9) Or they could improve maintenance or ventilation or whatever. The point is that if the money is put directly into the school system it will enhance education. Giving it to parents does none of that. The Gov'ts bribe is essentially a privatization of the school system.
10) instead of putting money directly into the school system to "enhance learning", they give it to parents. Let's assume that the parents actually spend it on their kid's education (a significant assumption). So what can they buy? Maybe a couple if hours of private tutoring?
11) why do they need private tutoring? Because their kid's friggin math class has too many kids in it and the kids can't get the help they need. So starve the school system so parent's are forced to spend $ to "enhance their kids education". This is privatization by stealth.
Hey, thanks for reading. If you live in Ontario, it is municipal election day on Monday. Go vote. For those of you in Toronto here is a good group of progressive champions that deserve your vote.
https://twitter.com/progresstoronto/status/1572953542771593219?t=68jyatfH9oe1iVBUNpm-Bg&s=09
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