Government review of class sizes adds fuel to fire

By Madeline Mazak

A petition sweeping Facebook has received thousands of signatures from educators who oppose larger class sizes suggested by the provincial Progressive Conservative government.

The petition gained momentum last week when Education Minister Lisa Thompson announced the government’s intention to review the need for caps on class sizes in elementary levels kindergarten to Grade 3. Class sizes are currently capped at 29 students, with a hard cap of 32. The proposal has been met with opposition from educators across Ontario who believe larger classes will reduce the quality of education.

“I think the Ford government is robbing Peter to pay Paul and not looking at the big picture when it comes to education,” said Laura Parent-Pearn, an early childhood educator at St. Joseph Elementary. “If we don’t educate our children properly, in the future we’re going to be in trouble. I think education should be number one. If we don’t have educated people, what will our society be like?”

The kindergarten curriculum focuses on an inquiry-based approach to learning. The lessons are guided by the interests of the children. Teachers incorporate educational activities into the day to give children the opportunity to explore their interests.

Parent-Pearn, who has worked for the Windsor-Essex Catholic District School Board for 25 years, said it is already challenging enough for educators to apply the inquiry-based approach with current class sizes.

“If you’re missing key points, you could be missing a spark of a child’s interest,” said Parent-Pearn. “If you’re not there to ignite it, that spark could be depleted. That’s heartbreaking.”

Christina Benneian, an early childhood educator at Sandwich West Public School, said she cannot imagine having more children in her class. With three adults in a class of 27, they are still falling short of providing the children with the individual attention they desperately need when they are three-and-a-half to five years old.

“It’s a struggle,” said Benneian, who has been an ECE for seven years. “It’s a beautiful program and if it functions properly it works so well, but it’s so hard to get it functioning properly when there’s so many kids.”

Benneian said she predicts there will be more behavioural challenges seen in classrooms if class sizes are increased. She said dedicating time to teaching lessons about sharing, kindness and self-regulation will be challenging with more children.

“I know this is all about money,” said Benneian. “But I really genuinely feel you’ll save so much money later on in your education if you invest in it early. Money needs to be invested in the little ones. If they don’t have a solid foundation, it makes everything that much harder.”

Lisa Thompson said no decisions have been made yet in regard to cutting the caps on class sizes in kindergarten and primary grades.

The Ford government has implemented belt-tightening measures to cut down the deficit racked up by the previous Liberal government. The Tories have pinpointed Ontario’s debt at $15 billion. In the Ford government’s first major fiscal report since taking office in June, the government announced it had successfully trimmed $500 million off the provincial debt.

The announcement to review the need for caps on class sizes is another blow to educators in a series of financial cuts rolled out since Premier Doug Ford took office. The latest was in December when the Ford government eliminated $25 million in funding for education programs.

Ms. Thompson said she hopes to have constructive consultations with all education stakeholders to ensure the appropriate decision is reached.

CUPE said in a press release Thursday all government MPPs are invited to visit Ontario classrooms to see the challenges education workers face, pointing to a disconnect between government and the reality in classrooms across the province.

“The Ford government needs to look at the whole picture before a sound decision can be made,” said Darlene Sawchuck, president of CUPE 1358. “My biggest concern is that they won’t do that. Removing caps on class sizes will be detrimental to early learners. Without a doubt.”

Sawchuck represents over 500 school support workers within the Windsor Essex Catholic District School Board. She said the effects of increasing class sizes are more far-reaching than Doug Ford realizes.

According to Sawchuck, “piling additional responsibilities onto support staff who are already overworked” could have psychological and emotional effects. She said teacher coaches and teacher-run after-school activities may be lost because teachers will be too burned out.

Sawchuck said the quality of education will decline if numbers in classrooms increase.

 “Teachers won’t have time to tune into what kids are inquiring about,” said Sawchuck. “Will the model change? I think it might. Will the way children experience education in their early years change? Yes, it will.”

Sawchuck said removing caps on class sizes is a slippery slope and the Ford government should not make a decision by only considering “dollars and cents.”

Sawchuck said there is a school coalition meeting among education workers in Windsor Essex this week to discuss the point at issue. While she will not be attending, other local representatives will.

As government consultations with key stakeholders unfold, Sawchuck said she hopes the voices of educators are heard and a decision on removing the caps on class sizes will not be taken lightly.