The school bell is supposed to provide a regimented reminder for students to keep to the schedule for class start, recess, lunch, etc. For students with autism or who have any sensitivity to sound, the school bell is quite literally a source of terror. 

It is hard enough to get through a school day with the sensory overload of having lots of people congregated in one place, lots of background noise  and many unexpected happenings; add to that fear and paranoia of the possibility of the school alarm sounding. 

Students who are in fear of the alarm bell watch the clock anxiously to prepare for the bell,  often they will hold their ears and try to dim the sound. As soon as one bell sounds, the fear and paranoia for the next alarm sets in. Students are anxious and the sound can trigger behaviours such as meltdowns or acting out. When a fire drill sounds this adds to terror and confusion as now the fear of the alarm becomes unpredictable. 

I never understood the harm and real torture the bell causes and its time for change. 

I propose that a new sound that is much less harsh in nature be put in place for all schools in Ontario Canada and support the change worldwide. It truly is time to step forward.

Please Premier Ford stop the trauma of the school bell.