AS FORD BICKERS WITH TRUSTEES OVER BUBBLE GUM, OUR CHRONICALLY UNDERFUNDED SCHOOLS ARE FAILING A GROWING NUMBER OF STUDENTS

Ontario students returned to school last week.

The first days back are always chaotic as kids, parents, and educators adjust to new routines. They’re also fun. On Tuesday, I watched a group of kindergarteners’ board the bus for the first time; their nervous excitement was almost as visible as their oversized backpacks. It warmed my heart.

Regrettably, for anyone following public education debates, the back-to-school elation quickly turns into apprehension. Chronically underfunded, our schools are failing a growing number of students.

This week was as good as any for the Ontario government to address education underfunding head on.