Premier Ford has sent a letter to educators, scientists, doctors, and unions asking seven questions to find a consensus on re-opening schools. He wants their answers by tomorrow at 5pm. See the letter here: https://mobile.twitter.com/anthonyfurey/status/1397933219585089536?s=21

Help us tell Premier Ford that this decision does not require a consensus between education workers and health professionals. The decision should be based on high quality evidence and data, and centred on children’s best interest.

You will find below templates that education workers and parents can use to contact key decision-makers, along with their emails and titles. These letters can be adapted or used to inspire your own letter.

The sooner you write, the better our chances of getting our children back to school before the end of the year.

Emails: 

To: premier@ontario.ca, christine.elliott@ontario.ca, minister.edu@ontario.ca,   

CC:  dr.david.williams@ontario.ca,  Barbara.Yaffe@ontario.ca, Alison.Blair@ontario.ca, nancy.naylor@ontario.ca, helen.angus@ontario.ca 

Parent letter

Dear Premier Ford, Minister Elliot, Minister Lecce,

Cc: Dr. Williams, Dr. Yaffe, Ms. Blair, Ms. Naylor, and Ms. Angus

I am a [Description of who you are. Example: a parent of a Grade One Student] in [community]. My child(ren) have struggled a lot over the past year. In fact, children, youth, and their families are struggling all around me. The media is also full of stories of pediatric hospitals and experts sharing how continually  closed schools are causing severe harm to children and youth.

I am writing to express my dismay with the letter Premier Ford sent to educators, scientists, doctors, and unions asking seven questions to find a consensus on re-opening schools. Your demand for consensus leaves out two important stakeholder parents and students. Just like educators and unions, we are directly impacted by this decision.

As a parent, I want the government to make the decision about whether the schools can operate safely while managing COVID risk, centred on children’s best interests and based on high quality evidence and real world data. This decision also requires consideration of the immediate and long-term harms school closures are causing for children, families, and society; considerations that were noticeably missing from your letter. 

As a parent, I want the Government to rely on scientists and health professionals. Health professionals - including experts from public health, infectious diseases, pediatrics, and mental health - as well as education researchers have made it clear that our schools should be open and that keeping them closed puts children and youth at extreme risk. 

The Science Table has also said that schools should be opened at this point given their importance and that the risk schools pose at this point is low enough for local public health to manage. It is unethical and immoral to consider the possible increase in cases associated with schools - an essential service - if you are not also considering this metric for each component of your re-opening plan. 

It is time for your government to get our children and youth back to school.  A return to school is critical for their health and well-being.

Sincerely,

[your name]

Education worker letter: 

Dear Premier Ford, Minister Elliot, Minister Lecce,

Cc: Dr. Williams, Dr. Yaffe, Ms. Blair, Ms. Naylor, and Ms. Angus

I am a [Description of who you are. Example: a Grade Four teacher] in [community].  The media is full of stories of pediatric hospitals and experts sharing how closed schools are causing severe harm. I see this among the students in my class, many of whom are struggling. 

Online education does not work for most of my students for a variety of reasons from limited access to the internet, to low technology skills, to distractions in their home, to lacking a connection with me and their peers. These struggles are intensified among my students with special needs, those living in poverty, and those with other barriers to learning.  Some of my students have disappeared entirely and those that remain are not learning to their full capacity.

I am writing to express my dismay with the letter Premier Ford sent to educators, scientists, doctors, and unions asking seven questions to find a consensus on re-opening schools. The government needs to make the decision about whether the schools can operate safely while managing COVID risk, centred on children’s best interests and based on high quality evidence and real world data. This decision also requires consideration of the immediate and long-term harms school closures are causing for children, families, and society; considerations that were noticeably missing from your letter. 

As an education worker, I’m calling on you to rely on scientists and health professionals to determine if schools should reopen. Health professionals - including experts from public health, infectious diseases, pediatrics, and mental health - as well as education researchers have made it clear that our schools should be open and that keeping them closed puts children and youth at extreme risk. 

The Science Table has also said that schools should be opened at this point given their importance and that the risk schools pose at this point is low enough for local public health to manage. It is unethical and immoral to consider the possible increase in cases associated with schools - an essential service - if you are not considering this metric for each component of your re-opening plan. 

It is time for your government to get our students back to school.  A return to school is critical for their health and well-being. 

Sincerely,

[your name]