remaking the school year [article rec]
Ontario won't force school boards to start classes after Labour Day
Tue Mar. 10 2009 2:36:54 PM
Keith Leslie, The Canadian Press
TORONTO - Ontario school boards were "urged" Tuesday to start classes after Labour Day this fall, but the Liberal government said it won't force any boards to scrap plans to bring back students the week before the traditional end-of-summer holiday. Some boards will wait until after Labour Day, which falls on Sept. 7 this year, to begin classes, but others want to start Sept. 1, in part to make up class time lost by the Liberal government's creation of a new Family Day holiday in February.
The Opposition said tourism-related businesses already suffering from the economic downturn, including the Canadian National Exhibition, could be hard-pressed to find workers if students are back in school before Labour Day.
Students and their families are also counting on the extra income from those summer jobs, said deputy Progressive Conservative Leader Elizabeth Witmer.
"It has a huge impact, and this year when we're already suffering a downturn in the economy, and families are getting pretty desperate -- maybe the mother or father has lost their job, and the child now won't have that extra week of work," she said.
"It also makes a difference to people who plan to send their child to summer camp or communities who have planned summer festivals."
( Education Minister Kathleen Wynne told the legislature she is writing to school boards asking them to schedule a professional development day for teachers before Labour Day, so classes can start after Sept. 7... )
...did I miss something? when did restructuring the school year become an issue? :S
Tue Mar. 10 2009 2:36:54 PM
Keith Leslie, The Canadian Press
TORONTO - Ontario school boards were "urged" Tuesday to start classes after Labour Day this fall, but the Liberal government said it won't force any boards to scrap plans to bring back students the week before the traditional end-of-summer holiday. Some boards will wait until after Labour Day, which falls on Sept. 7 this year, to begin classes, but others want to start Sept. 1, in part to make up class time lost by the Liberal government's creation of a new Family Day holiday in February.
The Opposition said tourism-related businesses already suffering from the economic downturn, including the Canadian National Exhibition, could be hard-pressed to find workers if students are back in school before Labour Day.
Students and their families are also counting on the extra income from those summer jobs, said deputy Progressive Conservative Leader Elizabeth Witmer.
"It has a huge impact, and this year when we're already suffering a downturn in the economy, and families are getting pretty desperate -- maybe the mother or father has lost their job, and the child now won't have that extra week of work," she said.
"It also makes a difference to people who plan to send their child to summer camp or communities who have planned summer festivals."
( Education Minister Kathleen Wynne told the legislature she is writing to school boards asking them to schedule a professional development day for teachers before Labour Day, so classes can start after Sept. 7... )
...did I miss something? when did restructuring the school year become an issue? :S