Hire workers to support youth

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TheStar  Jan 14, 2008   LETTER TO THE EDITOR

The carrot or the stick?

re: Why schools aren't safe   Jan. 11

As a kindergarten teacher with the Toronto District School Board, I applaud parts of the Falconer report for recommending the hiring of more social workers, community advisers, and child and youth workers to support marginalized youth. But the report doesn't address the numerous other staff positions that were cut and need to be reinstated.

We also need supports in place to intervene early: more psychologists to assess learning difficulties, education assistants for each kindergarten class and more special-education teachers, along with homework clubs and parenting centres.

After all, Jordan Manners and those charged in his death would have been in kindergarten or the primary grades when these cuts were implemented 10 years ago.

Joanne Clarke, Toronto

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