Education Cuts Prompts Student Walk Out

Friday, 5 April 2019 08:58

Students protesting changes to education in Woodstock

Hundreds of students walked out of class in Woodstock yesterday to protest cuts to education.

WOODSTOCK - High School students in Oxford County joined kids from across the province in walking out of class yesterday to protest cuts to education.

All in all thousands of students from across the Province walked out of class, hoping to send a message to Premier Doug Ford. In Woodstock they chanted Hey Ho Doug Ford has to go in front of local MPP Ernie Hardeman's office. Last month Education Minister Lisa Thompson announced a number of changes to education including a classroom cell phone ban, revamped health and physical education curriculum and an increase in high school class sizes.

CASS Student Novalee Hutchinson says classes sizes are already too large.

"Because when we lose more of the teachers then it creates more problems for students because they always complain about we always have issues at schools but when we are cutting teachers, how are we supposed to get the help that we need, especially for the E.A. students."

Another CASS student Kaleb Myer explains why they came out to protest.

"I'm protesting the LGBTQ cuts, because I don't think it's very fair or them being appreciative of lives, because they are making it a norm for kids who don't want to be outcasted, they don't want to be known as the trans kids, they just want to be normal."

Myers is also worried about the cuts to autism.

"With the autism, they are trying to normalize autism, when some of those kids really need the help, they need the support, they need it to succeed in life and they are taking the EA's away and they are destroying these kids lives."

Damion Watson explains what he hopes this protest will accomplish.

"I am here to protest Doug Ford's education cuts, so teachers wages getting cut, all of the teachers getting cut, the autism, the DC program being cut and class sizes being raised. How are we supposed to help these autistic kids when they are not getting the help they need, how are they supposed to teach kids when there is 40 kids in a class with one teacher, I mean how is one teacher supposed to control 40 kids."

A handful of young Doug Ford Supporters were also in the crowd chanting Doug Ford for Prime Minister.

The Thames Valley District School Board has released the following statement on the planned protest.

"Thames Valley District School Board has been made aware that a student protest is planned for Thursday, April 4 at 1:15 p.m. TVDSB is committed to ensuring safe, positive learning environments at all our schools and expects all students to behave in a peaceful and respectful manner throughout the school day. School administrators and teaching staff have been asked to provide support for students who have questions or concerns around recently announced changes in education. In compliance with Board policies, students failing to attend classes will be recorded as absent, and parents and guardians will be notified as a part of normal school practices."