‘We really want answers’: Parents, students push back after Ajax elementary school ends all overnight trips | CBC News
Some students and parents at an Ajax elementary school are pushing back after administrators abruptly ended all overnight trips, citing in part financial considerations and “equity and inclusion.”
Families received a letter from Southwood Park Public School on Oct. 1 informing them about the decision, which means Grade 8 students will no longer go on a graduation trip to Ottawa.
Students in Grades 6 and 7 will also miss out on overnight trips to Claremont Nature Centre in Pickering and Muskoka Woods, respectively.
“We really want answers. Why weren’t we consulted? Why was this decision taken arbitrarily?” said Peter Pukitis, whose son is a Grade 7 student at Southwood Park.
The school letter, signed by Principal Sarah Mitchell and Vice-Principal Sasho Nedelkovski, says overnight trips “can present unintentional barriers for some families due to cultural or personal circumstances.”
It also says these trips can be a financial burden on some families and require staff to take on additional responsibilities outside of working hours.
“Many families have shared that they are more comfortable with day trips, and this has been reflected in student participation,” the letter reads.
Overnight school trips will no longer happen in part due to financial considerations but also due to issues related to ‘equity and inclusion,’ according to a letter sent to families by the school’s administration. (Rochelle Raveendran/CBC)
But parents say they want to see the evidence and data that backs up this statement — such as through a community survey.
It’s also not clear how or why cancelling the trips will be more inclusive, says Erika Hill, whose daughter is a Grade 6 student.
“Offering experiential and outdoor opportunities is an incredible way to build teamwork, build confidence and just learn differently,” she said.
Close to 100 parents have joined a WhatsApp group to discuss possible solutions such as fundraising for students who can’t afford the trips, Pukitis says.
He says parents are also open to volunteering more frequently as chaperones.
“We’re rallying,” he said. “We’re ready to do whatever it takes to make this happen.”
Decision ‘not taken lightly,’ school board says
CBC News reached out to the school but were redirected to the Durham District School Board (DDSB).
The board said the decision to end school trips at Southwood Park “was not taken lightly,” in an email to CBC News.
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Individual schools make decisions about extracurricular events, rather than the board, so they can consider the unique needs of each school community, the board said.
“Conversations around meaningful experiences specific to the Southwood Public School community are ongoing,” the statement read.
Southwood Park’s decision comes after three high schools overseen by the Durham District School Board announced they will no longer organize prom last week.
School officials cited “growing expectations, liabilities and risks connected to school-run proms” for their reasons behind cancelling prom at the schools — though the board has asked the schools to pause their decision following student backlash.
Southwood Park’s administration also spoke about liability concerns for overnight trips during a parent council meeting held on Tuesday, Hill says.
She said she asked several questions about whether research was done to back up the decision to end the trips, but the administration was “unable to provide any feedback, any evidence.”
“Without that, I have a really hard time understanding how an administration can make an arbitrary decision like that,” she said.
Students say administration declined to hear their case
Grade 7 students Isla Marek and Arya Auglay say they created a petition to appeal the decision, collecting around 70 signatures from other students.
Grade 7 students Isla Marek and Arya Auglay say they formed a petition with around 70 signatories protesting the decision, but they were not heard by Southwood Park’s administration. (Rochelle Raveendran/CBC)
But when the pair tried to present their case in a slideshow to the principal that included fundraising ideas, they say they were turned away.
“We were taught that we have voices and we have freedom of speech,” Marek said.
“And then when we tried to use what we’re taught, we’re not able to use it.”
Auglay said knowing their hard work “just went to nothing and no one would listen to it was really sad.”
Marek went to the Grade 6 overnight trip, which she called an experience she’ll “never forget.”
“We learned outdoor activities, responsibility, independence, creativity, and just to have fun,” she said.
Having future trips taken away “is breaking my heart,” she said.
Auglay says her two older sisters both attended overnight trips at Southwood Park. She said she wasn’t able to attend last year’s trip, as it was her birthday.
“I was really hoping to go this year to Muskoka Woods, but knowing that that might not happen is really sad,” she said.
The students say they hope at least the Grade 8 graduation trip will be reinstated.
“It’s a milestone … it’s the most fun out of all of them,” Marek said.
Auglay said she still wants to present the slideshow to the principal.
Meanwhile, parents told CBC News it was made clear during Tuesday’s meeting the administration will not change their minds, but they’re still hoping for clarity about what exactly motivated the decision.
“We’re really looking for a seat at the table so that we can have a discussion and really see if we can’t solve this amicably,” Pukitis said.
