Half of my students sit in the dark because a track of my classroom lighting has been burnt out since March 2024.  So far, no one has fixed it. 

I teach Grade 8 and it is way too hot in our classroom.  We have no ability to cool the classroom down even with 4 small windows and 2 fans which do not do a good job. 

Many years ago, the TDSB stopped regularly testing the water in classrooms sinks as a result of funding cuts.  They instead put up signs that say “handwashing only” because they didn’t know if it was safe for drinking.

I am a Grade 1 teacher with 20 students.  One of my students has extreme behavioural issues.  I’ve had to endure assault, be kicked and spat on.  This student threw chairs towards the other students, terrorizing other students in my class.

I am teaching Grade 1 this year and have 23 students which is over the 20-limit cap. 2 students with autism and 2 students with behavioural needs.

As a parent I am afraid that my child will come home again, talking about the Special Needs child that does not have support staff.  My child has a right to go to school and not worry about being attacked, chased by another student.  He needs to be in a space that supports his needs.

I have been working for the Toronto District School Board for 20 years.

There have been drastic changes that sadly have affected the ability to work safely for the TDSB, from staff cuts to increased class sizes for our most vulnerable students. 

My classroom is a shared space.

I am on the staffing committee and every year we are never allocated enough teachers to run all the courses that our students want to take. We are forced to collapse classes that have 20 students who were hoping to take it.

My kids are attending the French Immersion program in North York. In my daughter’s class Jk/SK there are 29 kids. The class’ ECE got in a car accident in December and since then we have not been able to get another ECE that speaks French, so we have had an English one.

My kids are attending the French Immersion program in North York. In my daughter’s class Jk/SK there are 29 kids. The class’ ECE got in a car accident in December and since then we have not been able to get another ECE that speaks French, so we have had an English one.

I wrote this one day on my walk home from school after being exhausted from behaviours, disappointed at the lack of support, and frustrated with new initiatives.

I've planned my reading groups with anticipation to finally use our new reading resources. Phew! Made it to my room without any papers handed off urging me to cover classes for today. But then I get a text: I have to cover 3 periods.

Over the past few years, there has been an increase in extreme behaviour at my school. I have witnessed firsthand violence towards students and other staff members. These issues stem from a lack of resources and supports to help these students.

I have a student who is in grade 8 and cannot read or write. He faces other barriers, as well, but he does not have an adult in his life who is able to advocate for him and push the school to provide more support.

Consistency is one of the most important things a school can offer students. When positions are not secure and families are continually seeing new faces it creates a sense of disruption and mistrust.

The principal says it costs too much. So now I have to spend my time searching for used paper which will have to be “good enough” for use for the students. It’s completely disparaging, and an insult to teachers and students.

I’ve been documenting the state of uncleanliness in the school where I work. I have hundreds of photos and videos where health, safety, and lack of basic proper cleaning has occured.

Thanks to all the cutbacks due to a lack of funding, students do not have a special program to be in that they so desperately need to be in. There are no additional supports to help the teachers who teach mainstream classes.

My children have been attending the International Languages Program since JK at Orde St JPS. With the drastic funding cuts to the TDSB, the Board has been forced to weigh which programs will be cut.