Mail bag: 01/16/25

‘Chronic underfunding’

Dear Editor:

RE: Staff absences significantly impact UGDSB budget: Sovran, Jan. 2.

This article highlights the issue of staff absences and their impact on the Upper Grand District School Board (UGDSB) budget. It sheds light on a critical issue affecting public education in Ontario under the Ford government: the chronic underfunding of schools.

Despite government claims of record-high investments, funding has decreased by $1,500 per student when adjusted for inflation, according to the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives.

When public education is inadequately funded, the following outcomes, including staff absences, are inevitable.

1. Overburdened staff: teachers, occasional teachers, educational assistants, office clerical technical/transportation, professional student services personnel and early childhood educators, are left managing heavy workloads due to understaffing. Class size increases under the Ford government are a major contributing factor to this increased workload. This leads to burnout, mental health challenges and increased absenteeism.

2. Lack of student support: schools frequently lack resources like mental health counselors, leaving educators struggling to meet diverse needs. This adds to stress levels, particularly for those working with students requiring significant developmental or behavioral support.

3. Unpaid work: educators often fill gaps by working extra hours without compensation, creating an unsustainable workload that contributes to wellness issues and absences.

4. Financial constraints: budget cuts force boards to reduce staff and programs, destabilizing learning environments and increasing pressure on remaining workers. This cycle ultimately harms both student achievement and staff well-being.

Temporary employees are vital for maintaining continuity during absences; however, relying on them does not address the root causes of these challenges, which demand immediate investment in:

– increased staffing and smaller class sizes, which ensure the diverse needs of students and employees are met effectively;

– wellness initiatives: programs supporting mental health and professional development are essential to improving staff resilience and reducing absenteeism;

– transparent funding models: mechanisms that reflect the true costs of education are needed, including fair wages and adequate resources; and

– addressing school violence: with 75% of Ontario Secondary School Teachers’ Federation (OSSTF) members reporting more incidents of violence in schools, urgent action is necessary to ensure safety for all.

Chronic underfunding creates a costly and counterproductive cycle that jeopardizes the quality of education and the well-being of students and staff alike. By prioritizing public education funding, the Ford government can foster healthier work environments, improve outcomes, and strengthen Ontario’s future.

It’s time for the Ford government to recognize that education funding is an investment, not an expense. 

Our members stand ready to collaborate and advocate for a system that values students, teachers, and support staff as the foundation of a strong and prosperous province.

OSSTF District 18 (Upper Grand) representatives Cheryl Lampkin, Paul Rawlinson, Janice Minor, Christine Kerr and Tracey Mackie-Vlietstra

Filled ‘to the brim’

Dear Editor:

I can feel a conflict brewing in the Village of Elora.

I’ve stood in awe of the reawakening of 43 Mill St. W. and Francis Lane. The restoration of the Commercial Hotel has brought history back to life and the vision to transform Francis Lane into a gathering space is exciting and exceptionally beautiful. Thank you for the vision, the craftsmanship and the investment.

This past couple of weeks however, has brought a tipping point and I felt a deep need to explain how unsettling the lightning speed changes have affected me personally and I suspect many of the locals.

I’ve always thought of buildings as the vessels that allow a community to gather so it seems that the “filling” of the town is the unnerving ingredient to the changes. I felt for the first time since moving here in 1989 that I did not recognize my town – she was bursting at the seams. How odd it is to feel such joy at her unveiling and such trepidation for her future when I witness the hoards.

All good change comes with growing pains, but perhaps we could steer the ship in a slower direction.

Elora’s history is steeped in the arts and culture and I’m wondering if the criteria for selecting the “influencers” could reflect the categories of art/culture and history to generate a more organic tourist for this wee village of ours. 

A slower growth may foster a more meaningful connection to Elora as I fear that if we fill her to the brim too quickly, there will be no space for the treasures who could witness her true beauty.

Sophie Hogan,
Elora

‘Sigh of relief’

Dear Editor:

Selfishness, gaslighting, scapegoating and altogether terrible leadership – this is a mere sampling of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s legacy.

His resignation announcement last week allowed for a long awaited sigh of relief to be shared across the country; the possibility of 10 years of despair brought to an end, a dream many have held since Trudeau said, “… so help me God.”

However, no matter who the Liberals pull out of the hat, no matter who is decided to best lead Canadians in this process of restoration, they will not save us. 

We cannot vote for someone that sits opposite to the Conservatives in our House of Commons. Every time, they stood behind Trudeau as his ideas crashed and burned, and shielded him from rightful criticism and retaliation. 

We cannot fall for any last minute Biden/Harris type schemes. Trudeau is a bully, convinced that Canadians, his fellow countrymen, are his lowly subordinates. I guarantee you that his socialist successor, whoever it may be, will view you and I no different. 

We cannot risk the same possibilities to transpire as we witnessed last year, when our American counterparts were almost brought down by those who fell for “Democratic” strategy. 

So, when a new leader is found amongst the waste that is our Liberal Party, and an election is called, please think back to the past 10 years, how you have struggled, how your neighbours have struggled. And if you can find no fault in the Trudeau regime, then do as you please, but every vote counts. Another four year of anything resembling our present, cannot be endured. 

Susannah Sinclair,
Fergus

‘Delusional’ plot

Dear Editor:

Is it possible that Donald Trump has actually been reading history? 

There is an account of how Germany annexed Austria, then took Belgium, before anyone (except Churchill) realized the extent of Hitler’s grand plan.

Or is Trump spawn of Putin, who occupied Crimea with its important Red Sea ports, and attacked Ukraine with the ultimate plan to restore the boundaries of the old Soviet Union?

Perhaps, Trump and Elon Musk have too been strategizing for world domination. What is scarier than two delusional multi-billionaires plotting their next power grab? China, maybe.

Arlene Callaghan,
Fergus

Deficit issues

Dear Editor:

I would like to counter a letter from Jonathan Schmidt (‘Ideological extremism, Jan. 9) claiming we do not live under  “authoritarian socialism,” considering one person and his party have allowed 40 million citizens to live under a $60-billion deficit .

To Betty Bartleman (‘Disappointed,’ Jan. 9), yes, we would have money in government coffers to attend to  our elderly if not for a $60 billion deficit.

Regarding publisher Dave Adsett’s editorial about bridges being closed (Politics of infrastructure, Jan. 9), see the above paragraph. Also, regarding speed limits on rural roads, we had 80km/h limits but when drivers were going 100km/h and higher we urged Wellington County to lower the limit to 60km/hour. Now everyone is happier when they go by at 80km/h.

Lastly, Pierre Poilievres ideas will not solve all of Canada’s problems, but it could be a good start. All of this could have been avoided three years ago if Justin Trudeau heeded the majority and introduced electoral reform (which he now admits as his biggest regret).

Frank Yanchus,
Centre Wellington

‘Sky is not falling’

Dear Editor:

An open letter to feeble-minded federal and provincial leaders.

Donald Trump is playing head games with you, and not stopping to think, you are falling for his trap, which is no more than playing games, but at a much higher level than his first time as president.

Do you not understand that Canada belongs in the commonwealth, and that a long and complicated process is required to remove ourselves from it? 

Until that happens, and it will not happen over the next four years, we can’t change the way our government is run, let alone join the United States.

And to think you are the people who operate our federal and provincial governments, and possibly become our next prime minister.

You are behaving like Chicken Little. The sky is not falling.

Paul Roberts,
Fergus

Loves new rink

Dear Editor:

I want to publicly thank the volunteers who have built a beautiful outdoor rink on the ball diamonds in Victoria Park in Fergus. They worked in the very early hours last week in temperatures below -12°C to build the base and flood the rink. It is a very cold job!

Every evening after dinner there are at least 50 kids skating or playing hockey, and there are even more on the weekend.

As a retired educator, I know the importance of minimizing our children’s screen time activities. 

The volunteers who have built this amazing rink are giving the kids a healthy alternative to staying indoors and playing video games. 

They should be publicly recognized and thanked. 

Kit Scott,
Fergus

‘I marvel at their kindness’

Dear Editor: 

On reading the Jan. 9  Community News, I read the headline Mapleton couple pledges $250,000 to hospital MRI campaign. 

I went on to read of the couple who pledged this generous donation were Larry and Debbie Schill, who farm outside Drayton.

Upon reading the motivation behind this pledge, I marvel at their kindness! 

They were thinking of their community, now and in the future.

These two people are farmers. 

They work very hard indeed. 

I truly want to acknowledge what I’m sure many who have learned about this gift do feel; to acknowledge this publicly, how  many lives you will save and help give a firm diagnosis to assist the health care team!

I know many have given to this cause, my hat goes off to them!

Heather Winn,
Palmerston