October 31, 2011

Finance Minister Ken Krawetz bragged in a candidates' debate about lower property taxes implemented by his government. This was done on the backs of children and teachers. The government removed taxing power from school boards so they can no longer increase revenue to meet the needs of their schools.

The number of Saskatchewan children with intensive needs like autism, FASD and physical disabilities - or new immigrants with little knowledge of English - has increased by 10.6 per cent since 2007. Over the same period, the number of educational assistants (EAs) trained to work with these children decreased by 10 per cent, 61 EAs in Regina Public Schools alone.

Because these children are integrated into the regular classroom it is common for a teacher to have several with intensive care needs, with little or no EA support. Can a parent of any one of these children imagine looking after five or more, in a group with 20-25 other children?

Supervisors and consultants have been hired; they diagnose and recommend, but don't work with children on an ongoing daily basis. Regina teachers say 70-75 per cent of their time is devoted to special needs' children. Smaller class sizes and more assistants are required.

The government can brag about cutting taxes and removing the democratic right of elected trustees to deal with the resulting problems, but there is always a cost; a decline in public services which often has huge social and health impacts, an increase in debt, or an unfair shift in wealth. This is poor policy.

Verda Petry, Regina

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