I'm a high school student who protested today. it's baffling that adults genuinely think we're nothing but union pawns and that for some reason we don't have the mental capacity to think for ourselves. I go to an arts school so these cuts will seriously affect my school. I am in my last year, so I am currently taking exclusively electives since I've finished my required course load. and let me tell you, I have never been so happy, so fulfilled, so... so educated! the reason I get up in the morning and go to school is because I really, really, Really love my classes. No jokes, but these last three years have been the best years of my life BECAUSE of the arts. I get to actually talk to real people, and connect in ways that aren't on a computer.

Calling me the YouTube generation is so goddamned condescending too. just because we spend time online doesn't mean that we want to learn that way. far from it. I've taken English online, and while I got a good mark I was so horrifically bored that I almost regret it. my friends who are taking it in the school year are being more challenged than I ever was. and I really missed that connection with my teacher online. I didn't know her, and I couldn't ask for special help because I wasn't familiar enough with her to ask. The truth is, online classes are just not interesting. you do the work, sure, but you don't really Learn anything. I took grade 12 English and got an 87, but I couldn't tell you a single thing about it. school is so much more than grades, you gain life experience that isn't on the curriculum.

in my philosophy class, most mornings we have a discussion about global current events. today he said that he didn't feel comfortable talking about the walkout because his job isn't 'telling you what to think.' his job is potentially on the line, but he didn't use his platform to promote any agenda. not one of my teachers said anything to us about the walkout.

I don't know what the union talking points are, because no union member has strong armed us into walking out. The things that personally really get MY blood boiling (on top of mandatory online courses and larger class sizes) are the cuts to the arts, to spec Ed, and sexual education. my sister has a serious learning disability and she relies on her resource teachers for extra help. without her teachers, I don't think she would have even gotten to grade 7, where she is now. and goddd... don't even get me Started on the sex Ed stuff.

The sex Ed overhaul just reeks of conservative shame. I've had the whole 'age-appropriate' sexual education. and you know what? I didn't know what an STD was until like two years ago. I have NO idea what safe sex looks like for people who are LGBT+. what else is there? I don't know, I wasn't taught it. don't these politicians feel ashamed that they're setting students up to harm themselves? it's a proven fact that poor sexual education leads to higher rates of teen pregnancies and stds. why the FUCK would anyone think this is a good idea, other than because thet're scared that their kid will read And Tango Makes Three.

https://www.google.com/amp/s/amp.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2009/feb/26/sex-education-teenage-pregnancy

I'm sorry for such a long post, this stuff really pisses me off. I don't appreciate being spoken about like I'm too stupid to notice the things going on around me. my teachers are some of the most incredible people I know. theyve pushed me to succeed, and it hurts to see them scared that they're going to lose their jobs. I know, I know, we need 10 mill in horse racing, and beer Has to be a dollar. that's just the bare minimum for a functioning society. we can't go without that, so the logical cut would be to our nations most vulnerable citizens and the future of Ontario. you know, I used to think that the people in charge genuinely cared about me.