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A week after I asked MPP Jill Dunlop to advocate smaller class sizes during COVID-19 (Read original letter here), I invite your attention to the following: there were 2,549 new COVID-19 cases in Ontario (Sep 13-20); schools began increasing class sizes and cutting the number of classes; and the Simcoe Muskoka District Health Unit (SMDHU) issued a statement urging the public to “shrink their social circles”, limit gatherings to “10 people or less indoors”, and to “practice physical distancing.”
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A week after I asked MPP Jill Dunlop to advocate smaller class sizes during COVID-19 (Read original letter here), I invite your attention to the following: there were 2,549 new COVID-19 cases in Ontario (Sep 13-20); schools began increasing class sizes and cutting the number of classes; and the Simcoe Muskoka District Health Unit (SMDHU) issued a statement urging the public to “shrink their social circles”, limit gatherings to “10 people or less indoors”, and to “practice physical distancing.”
Also, the office of MPP Jill Dunlop, Associate Minister for Children and Women’s Issues, replied with a list of talking points about the school reopening plan, and this: “Things will certainly look different as students head back into the classroom, or conduct their learning virtually. But for every student in our province, this year offers an exciting opportunity to grow, learn new skills and reach new heights.
"The past few months have been challenging, but our government is incredibly proud of the efforts of our young people to work together to keep family, friends, and communities safe. We do thank you for your concerns and suggestions, and take them into advisement.”
It’s a conundrum: we cannot follow the SMDHU warning to shrink social circles and limit indoor groups to 10 or less while simultaneously sending children into classes of over 30 students.
I fear that while this contradiction goes unaddressed, we’re overlooking an even more disturbing situation: that schools are right now merging classes to form larger ones; some local schools are shutting entire hallways full of classrooms while funnelling children into increasingly crowded classes. And yet there is no outcry or even dialogue around these actions.
I suggest to readers that upon reflection it’s not really so much a conundrum as it is a double standard; for as long as parents and concerned citizens remain silent on the issue of large classes during the COVID-19 pandemic, we have effectively decided to apply the SMDHU guidelines to everyone except those in public schools.
John-Hugh MacDonald
Orillia
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Orillia
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