Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I would like to speak on the need for additional funding and attention to take care of our special needs students in our school system. I do not think I could do this better than a very articulate testimonial of one of the parents. It goes like this:
"I was recently involved in a parent-led campaign that sought to have a full-time education assistant assigned to the grade 2 class at J.H. Sissons School in Yellowknife. At that time, the class was made up of 27 students. Nine were being counselled to encourage more positive behaviour and at least five were known to be below the academic level for that grade. Two were later identified as having special needs due to either a mental or physical handicap.
This entire class, including the high-end special need student, was in the care of only one teacher. The school teaching staff have been assisting these children by providing counselling and program support. The time they are able to dedicate is limited to a few hours each week as their services are shared by numerous other high-need students.
Eventually, testing of the children was done and the two special needs children were identified. In January, these two students began sharing one education assistant for half of their school day. Another child was placed in the Strategies for Success Program, which helps students become better and more positive learners. These actions are helping the children involved but it does not address all of the high-need children in the class.
Six families moved their children to another school as they felt the class make-up did not promote a healthy learning environment for their children. This move, which was upsetting to all involved, may have been avoided if:
- funds were available to provide immediate help when it is needed;
- administrators were trained and equipped to identify and respond to high and special needs students in their schools; and
- pupil-teacher ratios were reduced when high-need students are involved.
This may mean the schools are funded in the future based more on the needs of the students and not just on the number of students enrolled."
Mr. Speaker, I would like to conclude by lending support to her suggestion or her plea to the Minister, which says:
"I strongly urge you to direct whatever resources you can towards developing a strategy for early identification and support of high-end special needs students. The investment will appear small in comparison to the cost to society...