School is an essential service. On January 7th, Premier Ford acknowledged that the school protocol have been successful in limiting transmission of COVID-19 and that it was the behaviour of adults over the holidays that drove up the rates. Schools should reopen on January 25th regardless of the numbers and teachers and school staff should be prioritized for receiving vaccines. 

Ontario schools are regimented and controlled spaces with regard to COVID-19 protocol. All school-age children in Ontario are masked, distanced and reminded constantly about hand hygiene and other protective measures. Children have washed their hands raw and gotten rashes from wearing masks for up to 8 hours/day. They have obediently followed the protocol even though it altered the quality of their school experience. Why? Because the social, economic and psychological well-being of our communities depend on our children attending school. When adults fail to plan and follow rules, the only segment of demographic who has consistently followed rules - children - are punished.

Please sign your name to support  teachers and school staff receiving vaccinations early and schools reopening on January 25th regardless of the numbers.