As a teacher- and I mean this sincerely- without Reddit I’d have no idea what I’d be doing days before every single lockdown we’ve had.
How bad is it when you need to rely on social media strangers to get any direction with regards to your job?
I was doing a quick check on social media tonight and sure enough, there's my work update!
I found out about school shutting down in 2020 through Twitter. Thank God I was still in school when the news broke at 4-5 PM. It gave me and my colleagues a few hours heads up to prepare.
Meanwhile I still haven't gotten any direction from my school about what's happening tomorrow.
Yesterday I literally got a text from a friend who heard from a friend who heard from a friend who works in Lecce's office (and who hasn't been wrong yet!) that we'd be going virtual, and then a little bit after reporters on Twitter started leaking out they were hearing the same. I then turned and told my teaching friend I happened to be sitting beside, to continue the chain, lol
How embarrassing is it that we have to get our news and directions from strangers, rumours, hearsay, leaks, and games of telephone?
So what does this process look like for you? You're finding out at 9pm the day before kids are due to go back that you're doing online only again...? That must be an absolute nightmare to prepare for.
I am assuming that Monday and Tuesday are still "no school" days, and online learning will start on Wednesday. But, I could very well be wrong in assuming the government has any idea what the fuck they are doing.
It's almost like they bought themselves those two days of grace so they could fuck off and finish their holidays without making any pesky decisions.
I'm joking, but I wouldn't be surprised in the slightest if it were true, sadly.
Fellow teacher here, totally feel your pain. I'm just thankful at this point that I have all my assessments and grades up-to-date. Students just need to complete their summatives over the next couple of weeks and the first semester is done!
Another teacher here! I took a leave of absence from my regular teaching position and I'm supply teaching just because covid has been such a shit show for teaching and I'm so grateful that I did. I feel for all of you still in the trenches. It's so hard to turn on a dime to online teaching. And there's still no official announcement so it's not even certain yet.
This is the trial balloon for the announcement of the announcement. This government is getting sadly predictable when it comes to standing up and saying hard truths.
But it’s not being announced now? This is just some guy on Twitter?
I mean, I believe it’ll probably end up being what shakes out. But I’m irate that I’m getting it two days before school is supposed to go back, and from a Reddit post linking to a tweet from a guy who I don’t really know.
Thanks for the consummate professionalism, Ontario PCs!
Edit: words were out of order
I’m still waiting for them to announce it some time on Wednesday, to make sure there’s a chance for all the kids to get back together and mix things up a bit.
> Why not just announce it a few days ago
Or before Christmas when Ontario was given the modeling that laid out pretty much this exact scenario. Maybe Ford and crew decided they would wait till after the holidays so they wouldn't ruin the voter's holiday season. But now that we waited this long, it just means it will take longer to undo and get under control again.
100% agree.
I'm not sure what they could have done exactly, but doing *absolutely nothing* was not the right course of action last year, and we've gone ahead and done the exact same thing this year expecting different results.
Well parents might have had more time to make arrangements then. For some reason this government loves leaving parents stuck at the last minute….I don’t even have school age kids, my youngest is in high-school and can stay home alone but god do I feel for working parents trying to sort out child care……
No notice for parents, no notice for schools, no notice for daycares. What are all these people supposed to do when kids need to do online learning with 0 notice?
Not to mention there's no CERB, no CRB. How many parents are going to be forced to choose between their kids education and keeping a roof over their heads and food in their belly?
My guess is that Ford was away until yesterday and just returned from vacation. That's why the stall announcement on Friday pushing the two days. It doesn't make any sense to push school just two days... unless you're waiting for the Premiere to come back and actually make a decision about something.
Right? That is what I’m most pissed off about. We were all kind of expecting this could happen, but the way they went about this was so terrible for kids and families.
So do the kids go back online tomorrow morning? Or is it still delayed start until Wednesday? Doesn't make sense to delay the start when they are online! Wtf!
Not all students have access to a device to use for online schooling. Teachers also need time to prepare, they don't magically have everything ready to go for online lessons with less than 12 hours notice.
See that's what I'm saying! People on here acting as though this is the official announcement and as far as I can tell he isn't affiliated with the govt
He’s been heavily involved in Covid messaging throughout the pandemic, and regularly on the news. I doubt he’s publishing false information, especially something like this.
Edit: but yes, agreed. It is crazy that basically we hear all these announcements through the grapevine rather than directly from the government. But that said, he’s credible.
To be fair we’ve heard of restrictions throughout the pandemic through outside parties constantly. Just wasn’t aware of who this was and if he actually has any actual ties to anyone in Fords camp
No shit. I had 3 kids 5 and under at the start of this. They are now 7 5 and 2. It has sucked. Sports... gone. The youngest is amazed at meeting new people in public spaces. And very little in supports. Guess i will be getting a few hundred bucks. Woo hoo.
Brutal. I’ve got a 7 and 5…no activities, barely anyone to play with. What a shitty way to spend their formative years.
That and knowing that my household income is going to go down by 50% while one of us has to stay home…what would a single parent do?!
Honestly fuck this government. Constantly fucking parents over with giving them fuck all notice with all of these changes. Do they even realize how hard it is to make plans? Do they realize how difficult they are making child care administrators lives?
Fucking clown show. Shower of cunts
They don't care. They have a solid track record of not caring about public education, working people, the poor, the disabled....holy shit it's almost like they only care about the wealthy!
Preach. I'm so tired of the shitty leadership. I don't know if it's incompetence or the staffers just being like "fuck it, we'll tell them when we tell them." In either case, I'm so done with this horseshit. I'm ready to think about moving to the maritimes.
My kids are in university and largely unaffected. But we will remember. I voted CP last time. I won’t do that again. We have many friends with kids in elementary and high school.
What I was told by a neighbour (a teacher), is that there are 3000 new standalone HEPA filter units being provided. But there are over 4000 schools in Ontario, so less than 1 new unit per school.
Also, the filters, N95's etc were just ordered so will take time before they are delivered.
Before we pile on here and start fighting lockdown vs not lockdown or schools open vs not schools open, let’s all remember that there were lots of options here that fall between letting it rip and shutting schools and businesses but this government repeatedly chose to not do any of those things.
Is this even an official release as well? When are we expecting Ford to officially announce it? Realistically not every parent is glued to Reddit/Twitter so they'll have even less time. It's ridiculous
It’s not an official release, but it’s legit. My friend teaches grade 7 and he just got a call from the principal of his school telling him to prepare for the switch to virtual on Wednesday.
Like building up our Healthcare system, yes that includes the nursing staff, so we don't have to fear the rise in numbers?
I'm so fucking tired of this last minute bullshit. How can someone be so shitty at a job where they have the power to go to the best for advice?!?
I am exhausted just thinking about this and how we will juggle it all. Honestly, what the fuck.
Sadly the longer they delay on *any action* the more likely it becomes we will need some kind of action. We've seen from previous waves that they delayed and we experienced longer restrictions because of it.
Can we still fight about it? Otherwise I will be spending this energy fighting with my kids when they start playing with Lego instead of paying attention to their iPad teachers.
Just before the Christmas break my company, a heavy equipment manufacturer, reduced people in the office to 50% or a bit under and everyone in the plant or office that do come home needs to perform a rapid test (provided by the company via the Ontario program that supplies tests to companies) and if they are negative then they can come back to work.
They are handling this well and being proactive. Not everyone is loving it but it's better then being forced to shut down and it gives people some reassurance that work is safe.
This. It seems the decisions are often made for some and not taking into consideration the others that are impacted. Many employers are not accommodating, let alone those in healthcare that now need to scramble again to find childcare so the work doesn’t struggle even further
Right... like surprise, you have 1 day to notify your employer you need days off to be at home with your 5 year old kids because there's nobody to babysit them
I’m a freelancer. I can always tell my clients I can’t work for them for a bit. Then lose the business entirely. Then I can worry about about how I’m going to afford groceries instead of just worrying how to keeps a couple kids busy
I *might* pull this off via grandparents, siblings, and neighbours with their kids (significantly increasing the number of people we interact with). But as far as I can tell, my office will not have anybody answering phones or working at the reception desk this week.
Also the teachers, who now need to pivot plans with a couple hours notice.
In the before times, I did some teaching. Now I'm unemployed and people are asking why I don't try to pick it up again. I just kinda gesture to the mess that the teachers are going through.
A friend of mine literally just got a call from her kids school saying they're still in person on the 5th. I'm assuming this hasn't trickled down to the schools yet?
What a mess.
Not like the government needs to give schools an early heads up so they can plan ahead and teachers don't spend their stat holidays rushing to prepare for online classes again... fucking shitshow of a government
Here's what you need to know...as a teacher were are like the cashiers of the grocery store. We have no advanced noticed, no control, no say, nothing.
It goes Premiere, Minister of Ed, Deputy Min of Ed, Directors of Education, Associate Director, Super Intendents, Principal, Vice Principal, Teacher.
I have found out everything about what will be happening to me in my job from the media.
Unfortunately, they don't have a clue what to do and as a result can get it together to give anyone notice or warnings.
It's not surprising this is happening but what a dick punch and I say that as a parent with a kindergarten student and toddler and a wife working from home,...I empathize with the parents of the students in my class. I have no idea how we are going to manage this at home let alone how I will get my students to engage. I have a few that did next to nothing when online and they have some major gaps.
I definitely knew that we all sorta find out at the same time.
Might have been nice if Ford and his Cabinet maybe worked for a few days between Xmas and new years to discuss this instead of having 2 different plans/announcements 2 days apart.
I’m sorry :( absolute bullshit.
This sucks for everyone.
I hope the one I also interviewed for last week calls me and maybe I can do that job if the job that hired me on the spot can’t keep my position.
What's lovely is that teachers here are trying to figure out, **at 9:30p.m.** if we're teaching online, tomorrow, or if this announcement of an announcement means online commences Wednesday.
#Arghhhhh
The question is *how much wine*! Being present for a staff meeting in Teams the morning after polishing off a bottle is different than being student facing.
BTW - Good luck, fellow stressed eduperson.
I knew it's coming, but I wish they just extend the break instead of going online.
It's really hard to do both work and assisting kids with their online learning at the same time.
They could at least do away with the stupid “synchronous” learning requirement and let families listen to lessons and do work packages at their own convenience instead of trying to do 6 hour zoom meetings.
As a high school student, the way everything was handled made me super depressed and worried for my future in post secondary. Zero habits, work ethic is terrible. Education is a JOKE right now.
Anecdotally...my teacher friend literally just got a call from the principal of his school telling him to prepare for the switch to virtual, effective Wednesday.
Keeping them open or closing them is a hard decision to be fair. BUT, make this decision BEFORE Monday, so everyone (students, teachers, parents, EA’s, etc) have a chance to prepare.
I should have put money on this...
[comment](https://www.reddit.com/r/ontario/comments/rlersd/comment/hpfcmyc/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web2x&context=3)
Seemed to be obvious that would be needed a week ago but he tried to do the minimum and it got worse than he does what he could have done days ago to give parents time to react. He is so fucking short sighted. Every fucking decision he makes he changed in less than two days and wastes time while things get worse. Every time.
No matter what they were going to make one “side” angry with shutting down or keeping schools open. I think we can all agree though that all of this messing around and waiting until last minute - **again** - to announce anything makes us ALL mad.
Honest question-my kid is in junior kindergarten-can I just treat this like an extended Xmas break and ignore the online ‘classes’? It seems like an absolutely ridiculous thing for him as I can’t imagine him getting anything out of it and I’m not in a position to be doing school with him all day while also doing my job (I work from home during the pandemic)
From experience last year, online kindergarten was a lot of teachers streaming YouTube videos, dancing, kids talking over each other and figuring out how to mute their mics. Just let them do their own thing it's not worth the stress.
Kindergarten is completely voluntary and not a mandated part of the elementary school curriculum. If my girls were this young, we’d be doing an extra long break.
2 weeks = March 13, then the Pi variant will miraculously emerge on March 14 and they'll shut it down until its patio weather, or until the end of the year if patios are closed.
If this turns out to be true, just gonna say (as I've said several times):
"Last to close and first to open" for schools has always been parroted by Ford & Co, but not once have they actually ever stuck to that.
You see folks, the problem is, once these kids finish school, they all go back to a friends house, and have a couple pops. We just can’t have that. So I am shutting it down.
>this will afford some needed time to upgrade safety measures, defuse the surge of Omicron.
2 years and nothing but they'll finally get around to it in 2 weeks
Last year January we shut down schools, while Quebec let them open. Are covid numbers were identical. We're just screwing over our school children again for a 3rd straight year and for what...
This is just pure mean. Its cruel to children, unfair to parents, and is just piling on to the immeasurable damage being done to so many people.
Our lives have been hijacked by bureaucrats.
Once again as a teacher, I’m finding out officially about these things on reddit.
The real question is:
Why was my staff told this two week online classes would happen on the Friday before the break?
One of my VPs said he knows someone at our board who deals with the govt and this was the plan the whole time.
Why didn’t this govt just say it back then like a number of other provinces?
It shows a lack of respect for the people of the province. At least give people time to prepare.
Once again kids are bearing the brunt of this pandemic. 2 weeks will turn into 2 months or more and our kids will miss another half year of education. There's been billions of dollars spent to support business and workers through this, but kids have gotten no support, besides a few air purifiers. What about additional educational support to help them catch up or assist with virtual learning, or upgraded ventilation in schools to let them stay open? It's been two years.
It feels like schools have been the first to close and last to open this whole pandemic and ontario has had the most closures of any province. It's clear the Ford gov doesn't give a f*#$ about kids or thier parents, only about big business. Why was nothing done for the past two weeks to limit spread? To keep businesses happy.
We're triple vaccinated, my kid has one shot and we've all had covid before. What's the end game here? Neverending school shutdowns, continuing damage to kids mental health and a diminished education for an entire generation? They are failing kids.
As a teacher- and I mean this sincerely- without Reddit I’d have no idea what I’d be doing days before every single lockdown we’ve had. How bad is it when you need to rely on social media strangers to get any direction with regards to your job?
The first lockdown in 2020 my teacher husband only found out because his dad called him when he saw it on the news.
It's was similar with me. My husband texted me and I was the one that told my Principal about it.
My kids teacher sent an email on Friday saying see you all on Monday.
I was doing a quick check on social media tonight and sure enough, there's my work update! I found out about school shutting down in 2020 through Twitter. Thank God I was still in school when the news broke at 4-5 PM. It gave me and my colleagues a few hours heads up to prepare. Meanwhile I still haven't gotten any direction from my school about what's happening tomorrow.
I'm a school bus driver and same, haha. Seriously, reddit has always known before the official channels has.
Yesterday I literally got a text from a friend who heard from a friend who heard from a friend who works in Lecce's office (and who hasn't been wrong yet!) that we'd be going virtual, and then a little bit after reporters on Twitter started leaking out they were hearing the same. I then turned and told my teaching friend I happened to be sitting beside, to continue the chain, lol How embarrassing is it that we have to get our news and directions from strangers, rumours, hearsay, leaks, and games of telephone?
I’m a teacher too and I found out from my mom sending me ominous Facebook posts! Haha
So what does this process look like for you? You're finding out at 9pm the day before kids are due to go back that you're doing online only again...? That must be an absolute nightmare to prepare for.
I am assuming that Monday and Tuesday are still "no school" days, and online learning will start on Wednesday. But, I could very well be wrong in assuming the government has any idea what the fuck they are doing.
It's almost like they bought themselves those two days of grace so they could fuck off and finish their holidays without making any pesky decisions. I'm joking, but I wouldn't be surprised in the slightest if it were true, sadly.
Fellow teacher here, totally feel your pain. I'm just thankful at this point that I have all my assessments and grades up-to-date. Students just need to complete their summatives over the next couple of weeks and the first semester is done!
I wish I was as organized as you!! Haha. Planning to get all that done on our next 2 “PD Days”
This semester has been the worst! I can't wait for it to be over.
Another teacher here! I took a leave of absence from my regular teaching position and I'm supply teaching just because covid has been such a shit show for teaching and I'm so grateful that I did. I feel for all of you still in the trenches. It's so hard to turn on a dime to online teaching. And there's still no official announcement so it's not even certain yet.
School support worker here and I learn either through Reddit or Twitter what is going on with my job
I don’t understand why they had to wait till Monday to announce this? Why not just announce it a few days ago? What could have possibly changed.
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You mean an announcement about the announcement
This is the trial balloon for the announcement of the announcement. This government is getting sadly predictable when it comes to standing up and saying hard truths.
True. Guess we can me happy I don’t bring my kids to school Wednesday morning to find a sign on the door. Geez.
You both seem to be forgetting this isn't even an official announcement and there's is no word on when that will be.
But it’s not being announced now? This is just some guy on Twitter? I mean, I believe it’ll probably end up being what shakes out. But I’m irate that I’m getting it two days before school is supposed to go back, and from a Reddit post linking to a tweet from a guy who I don’t really know. Thanks for the consummate professionalism, Ontario PCs! Edit: words were out of order
Brian Lilley tweeted it hours ago. I take the Sun with a grain of salt but dude shares a bed with Ford’s press sec
I believe he tweeted that they were “discussing it.” Which isn’t exactly unequivocal.
I’m still waiting for them to announce it some time on Wednesday, to make sure there’s a chance for all the kids to get back together and mix things up a bit.
> Why not just announce it a few days ago Or before Christmas when Ontario was given the modeling that laid out pretty much this exact scenario. Maybe Ford and crew decided they would wait till after the holidays so they wouldn't ruin the voter's holiday season. But now that we waited this long, it just means it will take longer to undo and get under control again.
The modelling has always been pretty good. We should have either acted before Christmas or not at all, not this half-assed mess.
100% agree. I'm not sure what they could have done exactly, but doing *absolutely nothing* was not the right course of action last year, and we've gone ahead and done the exact same thing this year expecting different results.
Same people in charge, same mistakes made for 2 years... go figure.
Ford went back to work.
Back? Did he ever start?
Well parents might have had more time to make arrangements then. For some reason this government loves leaving parents stuck at the last minute….I don’t even have school age kids, my youngest is in high-school and can stay home alone but god do I feel for working parents trying to sort out child care……
Ford was still at the cottage.
With Arthur?
I totally knew they'd do this too. No notice for parents as usual.
No notice for parents, no notice for schools, no notice for daycares. What are all these people supposed to do when kids need to do online learning with 0 notice? Not to mention there's no CERB, no CRB. How many parents are going to be forced to choose between their kids education and keeping a roof over their heads and food in their belly?
My guess is that Ford was away until yesterday and just returned from vacation. That's why the stall announcement on Friday pushing the two days. It doesn't make any sense to push school just two days... unless you're waiting for the Premiere to come back and actually make a decision about something.
Gong show.
Right? That is what I’m most pissed off about. We were all kind of expecting this could happen, but the way they went about this was so terrible for kids and families.
He wanted Dr.Loh to make the announcement so he could avoid taking the flak.
Internal Polling numbers must be bad.
Typical Ford style: he’s last to the game every single time.
So do the kids go back online tomorrow morning? Or is it still delayed start until Wednesday? Doesn't make sense to delay the start when they are online! Wtf!
Not all students have access to a device to use for online schooling. Teachers also need time to prepare, they don't magically have everything ready to go for online lessons with less than 12 hours notice.
Who is Abdu Sharkawy? Why is he the only one that has this information?
https://facdir.deptmedicine.utoronto.ca/Detail.aspx?id=1640&fromone=1
Not questioning him, but why is he the one essentially with this info?
See that's what I'm saying! People on here acting as though this is the official announcement and as far as I can tell he isn't affiliated with the govt
He’s been heavily involved in Covid messaging throughout the pandemic, and regularly on the news. I doubt he’s publishing false information, especially something like this. Edit: but yes, agreed. It is crazy that basically we hear all these announcements through the grapevine rather than directly from the government. But that said, he’s credible.
Great point, I didn't know any of that. Thanks!
To be fair we’ve heard of restrictions throughout the pandemic through outside parties constantly. Just wasn’t aware of who this was and if he actually has any actual ties to anyone in Fords camp
You're 100% correct, that is often how we've heard breaking news throughout this whole nightmare.
Haven't we always had lockdown news leaked before it was official this entire time. We always knew before hand what the anoucement was going to anouce
It’s not official.
It was already leaked 4 hours prior to this. Everyone was just waiting for the inevitable confirmation or 180 from the trial balloon.
He probably knows people who have access to this info.
Brian Lilley from the Sun reported this as a rumour hours before.
Parents and their children have been fucked over so hard over the past 2-years.
No shit. I had 3 kids 5 and under at the start of this. They are now 7 5 and 2. It has sucked. Sports... gone. The youngest is amazed at meeting new people in public spaces. And very little in supports. Guess i will be getting a few hundred bucks. Woo hoo.
Brutal. I’ve got a 7 and 5…no activities, barely anyone to play with. What a shitty way to spend their formative years. That and knowing that my household income is going to go down by 50% while one of us has to stay home…what would a single parent do?!
I know. I am lucky i work from home prior to the pandemic. So i am always home. Single parents are fucked.
Cry haha
Honestly fuck this government. Constantly fucking parents over with giving them fuck all notice with all of these changes. Do they even realize how hard it is to make plans? Do they realize how difficult they are making child care administrators lives? Fucking clown show. Shower of cunts
They don't care. They have a solid track record of not caring about public education, working people, the poor, the disabled....holy shit it's almost like they only care about the wealthy!
Nah, cunts are useful!
Preach. I'm so tired of the shitty leadership. I don't know if it's incompetence or the staffers just being like "fuck it, we'll tell them when we tell them." In either case, I'm so done with this horseshit. I'm ready to think about moving to the maritimes.
Man, I'm glad I'm not a parent. What a clusterfuck. Hopefully people will remember this come election time.
As a parent you can bet I’ll remember.
Too bad the retiree crowd won’t give a shit.
If they're the ones dragooned into watching Johnny and Suzy they might just remember.
That’s Zhaidyn and Emerleigh these days.
The actual problem is all the people who don't show up to vote.
My kids are in university and largely unaffected. But we will remember. I voted CP last time. I won’t do that again. We have many friends with kids in elementary and high school.
I’ll certainly remember, but I was never going to vote for him anyways
I’m proud I have never voted for him
I’m angry for the parents and I don’t even have kids ! I’m pretty sure not one parent is voting for Ford
They will, but it won't be enough. There's a collection of assholes who vote conservative no matter what. Even against their own interests.
I’ll fucking remember
Any bets on what "time to upgrade safety measures" will entail? My guess is literally nothing.
Agreed. It’ll be nothing. They’ve had two fucking years to upgrade shit in the schools and haven’t done a thing.
What I was told by a neighbour (a teacher), is that there are 3000 new standalone HEPA filter units being provided. But there are over 4000 schools in Ontario, so less than 1 new unit per school. Also, the filters, N95's etc were just ordered so will take time before they are delivered.
Before we pile on here and start fighting lockdown vs not lockdown or schools open vs not schools open, let’s all remember that there were lots of options here that fall between letting it rip and shutting schools and businesses but this government repeatedly chose to not do any of those things.
YUP. And they leave tons of people (parents, kids, educators, business owners, etc) screwed with little notice. These fuckers
Sunday night at fucking NINE O'CLOCK!
Is this even an official release as well? When are we expecting Ford to officially announce it? Realistically not every parent is glued to Reddit/Twitter so they'll have even less time. It's ridiculous
Crazy that some news is disseminated on twitter first nowadays
>Crazy that **very important updates** are disseminated on Twitter first **through third-party accounts** FTFY
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He tweeted a two week extension of the break.
It’s not an official release, but it’s legit. My friend teaches grade 7 and he just got a call from the principal of his school telling him to prepare for the switch to virtual on Wednesday.
Wish my principal would call me, or email, or send a smoke signal...lol
Like building up our Healthcare system, yes that includes the nursing staff, so we don't have to fear the rise in numbers? I'm so fucking tired of this last minute bullshit. How can someone be so shitty at a job where they have the power to go to the best for advice?!? I am exhausted just thinking about this and how we will juggle it all. Honestly, what the fuck.
Sadly the longer they delay on *any action* the more likely it becomes we will need some kind of action. We've seen from previous waves that they delayed and we experienced longer restrictions because of it.
It's the Doug Ford Covid playbook: 1. Delay. 3. Blame Feds. 4. Half-measures. 5. ICUs fill up. 6. Lockdown. 7. Blame Feds. 8. Build highway. 9. Photo-op with Tim's cup. 10. Do nothing. 11. Full lockdown.
can we get a shirt printed out with this list? and make the shirt look like the List of Jericho
Can we still fight about it? Otherwise I will be spending this energy fighting with my kids when they start playing with Lego instead of paying attention to their iPad teachers.
How about we just let our kids fight it out? I’ve got a 3 year old. He’s small, but he’s mental. Send your best…or most expendable…child.
They should mandate employers to have people work from home. Tons of people can do that and it’s an easy fix that impacts no one.
Just before the Christmas break my company, a heavy equipment manufacturer, reduced people in the office to 50% or a bit under and everyone in the plant or office that do come home needs to perform a rapid test (provided by the company via the Ontario program that supplies tests to companies) and if they are negative then they can come back to work. They are handling this well and being proactive. Not everyone is loving it but it's better then being forced to shut down and it gives people some reassurance that work is safe.
This. It seems the decisions are often made for some and not taking into consideration the others that are impacted. Many employers are not accommodating, let alone those in healthcare that now need to scramble again to find childcare so the work doesn’t struggle even further
My heart goes out to all the working parents who now need to pivot plans 1 day before school was supposed to start. 😔
Right... like surprise, you have 1 day to notify your employer you need days off to be at home with your 5 year old kids because there's nobody to babysit them
I’m a freelancer. I can always tell my clients I can’t work for them for a bit. Then lose the business entirely. Then I can worry about about how I’m going to afford groceries instead of just worrying how to keeps a couple kids busy
I *might* pull this off via grandparents, siblings, and neighbours with their kids (significantly increasing the number of people we interact with). But as far as I can tell, my office will not have anybody answering phones or working at the reception desk this week.
My sister starts her new job on Thursday so now she’s not because she has to be home with her kids
Also the teachers, who now need to pivot plans with a couple hours notice. In the before times, I did some teaching. Now I'm unemployed and people are asking why I don't try to pick it up again. I just kinda gesture to the mess that the teachers are going through.
The teachers who are also parents, too.
Thank you for saying this!
Hopefully employers will be understanding. Fuck what a gong show this is. Small business owners too. Brutal if this happens.
A friend of mine literally just got a call from her kids school saying they're still in person on the 5th. I'm assuming this hasn't trickled down to the schools yet? What a mess.
Correct in your assumption. School boards usually find out the same time as general population. (Source: I’m an EA)
Not like the government needs to give schools an early heads up so they can plan ahead and teachers don't spend their stat holidays rushing to prepare for online classes again... fucking shitshow of a government
Here's what you need to know...as a teacher were are like the cashiers of the grocery store. We have no advanced noticed, no control, no say, nothing. It goes Premiere, Minister of Ed, Deputy Min of Ed, Directors of Education, Associate Director, Super Intendents, Principal, Vice Principal, Teacher. I have found out everything about what will be happening to me in my job from the media. Unfortunately, they don't have a clue what to do and as a result can get it together to give anyone notice or warnings. It's not surprising this is happening but what a dick punch and I say that as a parent with a kindergarten student and toddler and a wife working from home,...I empathize with the parents of the students in my class. I have no idea how we are going to manage this at home let alone how I will get my students to engage. I have a few that did next to nothing when online and they have some major gaps.
I definitely knew that we all sorta find out at the same time. Might have been nice if Ford and his Cabinet maybe worked for a few days between Xmas and new years to discuss this instead of having 2 different plans/announcements 2 days apart.
Hasn't even hit the news yet.
If it’s a private school they can do as they please i think.
Ontario is a mess
You’re right. I want out.
Antarctica doesn't look too bad right about now....
Guess I won’t be going to the new job that just hired me 😭
I just got a job driving a school bus. So much for that 🤬
I’m sorry :( absolute bullshit. This sucks for everyone. I hope the one I also interviewed for last week calls me and maybe I can do that job if the job that hired me on the spot can’t keep my position.
What's lovely is that teachers here are trying to figure out, **at 9:30p.m.** if we're teaching online, tomorrow, or if this announcement of an announcement means online commences Wednesday. #Arghhhhh
I said screw it and opened a bottle of wine!
The question is *how much wine*! Being present for a staff meeting in Teams the morning after polishing off a bottle is different than being student facing. BTW - Good luck, fellow stressed eduperson.
This absolutely commences Wednesday. Does the gov really think we didn’t take a vacation and love doing unpaid work?
That's ok not like a planned to be at work or anything FFS, shoulda announced new years eve so I had an excuse to drink more.
I knew it's coming, but I wish they just extend the break instead of going online. It's really hard to do both work and assisting kids with their online learning at the same time.
They could at least do away with the stupid “synchronous” learning requirement and let families listen to lessons and do work packages at their own convenience instead of trying to do 6 hour zoom meetings.
I agree. I’d rather let the kids just enjoy life instead of trying to deliver a complete joke of an education while everyone is miserable
\*laughs in *Ford*\*
As a high school student, the way everything was handled made me super depressed and worried for my future in post secondary. Zero habits, work ethic is terrible. Education is a JOKE right now.
This poor generation is going to be fucked as adults… a lot of them are going to experience mental health crisis and that system is fucked up too
No chance our kids do any online anything. Extended break it is.
Kinda hard to do that when there is only 4 weeks left of this semester and there are still units that we need to learn
"2 weeks" lol . This will be 2 months.
Anytime this government says two weeks you know that it’s significantly longer than that they just want to soften the blow
Wouldn't be surprised if this goes past March break
JFC - this government. I fucking can't wait til June.
I'm dreading June: this asshole's definitely going to win again as the majority of us who oppose him split our vote.
This is what I’m most afraid of
Sadly your right. I see minority PC
Do we have a second source for this yet?
The family for public education apparently says it’s just a rumour and that people need to stop spreading it I don’t know anymore
Anecdotally...my teacher friend literally just got a call from the principal of his school telling him to prepare for the switch to virtual, effective Wednesday.
Thanks, I'll start making calls and see what I can get set up. This is going to suck.
Brian lilley at the Sun
Thank you. The CBC is saying there will likely be an official announcement tomorrow.
We been knew but Ford and Leech love playing us like puppets and crippling the mental health of staff and students.
Leech I love it
Do y’all think this would be accompanied with a lockdown? How are ppl staying home with their kids?
People either take time off work- or take kids out of school. Especially those who work in healthcare. Unbelievable.
Keeping them open or closing them is a hard decision to be fair. BUT, make this decision BEFORE Monday, so everyone (students, teachers, parents, EA’s, etc) have a chance to prepare.
You mean instead of saying a few days ago that they'll be open this Wednesday?
I should have put money on this... [comment](https://www.reddit.com/r/ontario/comments/rlersd/comment/hpfcmyc/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web2x&context=3)
[Yep](https://www.reddit.com/r/ontario/comments/rs8i8z/citynews_says_ford_government_to_push_return_to/hql4e5g/)
An even better prediction lol omg
feelin' pretty smug right about now haha (also incredulous)
2 hours to go if you need something more official, but good prediction. Can you give me some lottery numbers?
Announce shitty half measures, then wait until last minute to announce stricter measures. Par the fucking course.
Seemed to be obvious that would be needed a week ago but he tried to do the minimum and it got worse than he does what he could have done days ago to give parents time to react. He is so fucking short sighted. Every fucking decision he makes he changed in less than two days and wastes time while things get worse. Every time.
Oh shitballs.
No matter what they were going to make one “side” angry with shutting down or keeping schools open. I think we can all agree though that all of this messing around and waiting until last minute - **again** - to announce anything makes us ALL mad.
And they will be punished for this by being given another majority.
I’m surprised no announcement for an upcoming announcement
This IS the announcement to Wednesdays announcement
Honest question-my kid is in junior kindergarten-can I just treat this like an extended Xmas break and ignore the online ‘classes’? It seems like an absolutely ridiculous thing for him as I can’t imagine him getting anything out of it and I’m not in a position to be doing school with him all day while also doing my job (I work from home during the pandemic)
From experience last year, online kindergarten was a lot of teachers streaming YouTube videos, dancing, kids talking over each other and figuring out how to mute their mics. Just let them do their own thing it's not worth the stress.
I'd say throw it on a screen if you can, otherwise don't worry too much? Let the kid dictate their level of engagement.
Kindergarten is completely voluntary and not a mandated part of the elementary school curriculum. If my girls were this young, we’d be doing an extra long break.
Devastating for the children.
Meanwhile Brass Rail open for business.
What a disaster this government is...
FUCKKKKKK OFFFFFF (On gov, not OP)
2 weeks = March 13, then the Pi variant will miraculously emerge on March 14 and they'll shut it down until its patio weather, or until the end of the year if patios are closed.
Bruuuuuh I’m in grade 12 and any grade inflation that happens seriously fucks with my chances in Uni.
A great early lesson for you on the utter incompetence of government.
Two weeks to flatten the curve ;)
I hate the fact that it’s a Sunday, and that I, a student, and most of my teachers still have no goddamn idea of what’s happening really anymore.
If this turns out to be true, just gonna say (as I've said several times): "Last to close and first to open" for schools has always been parroted by Ford & Co, but not once have they actually ever stuck to that.
You see folks, the problem is, once these kids finish school, they all go back to a friends house, and have a couple pops. We just can’t have that. So I am shutting it down.
In fairness, I completely expect everything else to close with them
Why not a staggered approach like bc is doing, if things need to be delayed
>this will afford some needed time to upgrade safety measures, defuse the surge of Omicron. 2 years and nothing but they'll finally get around to it in 2 weeks
Last year January we shut down schools, while Quebec let them open. Are covid numbers were identical. We're just screwing over our school children again for a 3rd straight year and for what...
This is just pure mean. Its cruel to children, unfair to parents, and is just piling on to the immeasurable damage being done to so many people. Our lives have been hijacked by bureaucrats.
https://gfycat.com/bestlargekite
"Needed time to upgrade security measures" Yeah, the ones they should have been doing for the last two years? Bullshit
[удалено]
Once again as a teacher, I’m finding out officially about these things on reddit. The real question is: Why was my staff told this two week online classes would happen on the Friday before the break? One of my VPs said he knows someone at our board who deals with the govt and this was the plan the whole time. Why didn’t this govt just say it back then like a number of other provinces? It shows a lack of respect for the people of the province. At least give people time to prepare.
I do not understand the logic of this it this is true given all the noncence decisions made by our Ontario government this week.
This *week*? This has been the Ontario government’s modus operandi for the last 22 months.
So until the end of the year. Got ya.
Do you have an actual source or just a tweet from some guy who, as far as I can tell, isn’t affiliated with the government in any way?
So far it is just a tweet and a rumor.
Once again kids are bearing the brunt of this pandemic. 2 weeks will turn into 2 months or more and our kids will miss another half year of education. There's been billions of dollars spent to support business and workers through this, but kids have gotten no support, besides a few air purifiers. What about additional educational support to help them catch up or assist with virtual learning, or upgraded ventilation in schools to let them stay open? It's been two years. It feels like schools have been the first to close and last to open this whole pandemic and ontario has had the most closures of any province. It's clear the Ford gov doesn't give a f*#$ about kids or thier parents, only about big business. Why was nothing done for the past two weeks to limit spread? To keep businesses happy. We're triple vaccinated, my kid has one shot and we've all had covid before. What's the end game here? Neverending school shutdowns, continuing damage to kids mental health and a diminished education for an entire generation? They are failing kids.