This article was last updated on April 16, 2022
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With students and parents at Queen’s Park today to fight proposed cuts to itinerant music teachers and music instruction in their schools, this morning in the legislature Trinity-Spadina MPP Rosario Marchese called on the government to stop its attack on arts education.
“According to People for Education, students at one in three elementary schools across the province do not have the opportunity to learn a musical instrument or participate in a band, orchestra or choir,” explained Marchese. “Why are students in Ontario being forced to go without basic arts education when it is part of the province’s compulsory curriculum?”
Last year, the Liberal government eliminated the Program Enhancement Grant for arts programming, while this year provincial advisors are urging the Toronto District School Board to drastically cut music instruction.
Marchese reminded the Minister of Education of her own fight against identical cuts in 2003, when the Progressive Conservatives were in power. Kathleen Wynne, a school trustee at that time, also fought against these cuts. “How times have changed ten years later,” Marchese mused.
“Students at one in three Ontario schools are going without basic music education,” said Marchese. “When will the Minister put in place policy and funding to ensure all students have music instruction and the opportunity to learn an instrument and perform in a choir, band or orchestra?”
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