My name is Alan Xi and I am a former student of Ballantrae Public School. I am writing this petition out of a deep sense of personal concern. During my time at the school, I experienced firsthand the underprivileged conditions that students are subjected to daily. The lack of adequate school supplies, gym equipment, and playground facilities, and educational support workers not only hampers their learning experience but also perpetuates inequality.

Ballantrae Public School is located in Whitchurch-Stouffville, ON, Canada - an area where every child should have access to quality education and resources. However, the reality is far from ideal. Children in Ballantrae Public School lack essential learning tools due to insufficient funding. But this isn't just about Ballantrae, it's about schools all across Ontario. 

According to Statistics Canada (2019), schools with inadequate resources can negatively impact students' academic performance and overall well-being. This situation is unacceptable in a country like Canada which prides itself on its commitment towards ensuring equal opportunities for all. 

We believe that every child deserves better learning conditions irrespective of their socio-economic background. Therefore, we urge the  Ministry of Education, Stephen Lecce, to increase funding for elementary schools in Ontario so they can provide necessary school supplies, upgrade gym equipment and improve playground facilities, and provide more educational support workers. 

Learning gaps in schools are proven to produce "patterns of advantage and disadvantage", which leads to more funding towards schools that already have funding, and less funding for schools that can't produce results due to the lack of funding. This negative feedback loop is extremely harmful for schools with less funding, which is what we need to change. 

A recent issue that has caused much conflict in the Ministry of Education of Ontario is students falling behind due to the recent COVID-19 pandemic. But this is just another of the many reasons we need your help to provide vital funding to boost the learning gaps that students have acquired throughout these past troublesome years. This funding will go towards educational support teachers to better help students that have fallen behind. 

By signing this petition you will be supporting our cause for equality in education by providing better learning conditions for future generations for elementary schools in Ontario. Please sign this petition today!