(Quebec) Bernard Drainville reiterates that parents’ and school administrators’ concerns about the reorganization of a special education service for children with disabilities at the Center de services scolaire de Montréal (CSSDM) can be explained by simple “resistance” to a new model. “Can we give this new model a chance to prove itself? ‘ he asked on Wednesday.
Posted at 10:49 am
The education minister was responding to a letter from Montreal school leaders to their members, received by La Presse, in which they rejected the CSSDM’s decision to reallocate 22 remedial teachers, beginning next school year, who will come to the aid of nearly 250 students with disabilities.
“It’s a new model that’s being offered and as with all new models, there’s a drag […] and a worry. So what I’m saying to the parents, the remedial teachers involved, and the departing principals, I’m telling them: listen, give the new model a chance to prove itself. Because the goal of the new model is to offer more services to more students,” defended Mr. Drainville.
For 40 years, the Pedagogical Support Service for the Integration of Physically Disabled Students (SSPI) has consisted of special education teachers who travel to several schools to help disabled students attending so-called mainstream schools. The CSSDM has decided to abolish this service and reallocate these professionals to schools. In the future, the children will be supported by remedial teachers who work in the schools they attend.
“What was presented to me is that not only do students who currently have access to a service continue to have access, but students who do not have access can also access it,” said Mr. Drainville, who is defending the CSSDM’s decision.
The school services center’s head of education services, Benoit Thomas, assured La Presse that students who benefited from hours with remedial teachers will have the same, if not more, with the new way of working.
“Can we give this new model a chance to prove itself? The idea, I repeat, is to have more students getting more services. […] It is suggested to ensure that support teachers’ time is maximized so that they are available to as many children as possible. Sounds like a good idea to me,” said Mr. Drainville.
However, school leaders make an observation that is diametrically opposed to the claims made by the Minister of Education and the CSSDM.
“While people expect us to break the bad news to parents, and want us to believe that these students are getting better results, we regret that this momentous decision was made hasty and without real consultation,” wrote Kathleen Legault and Stéphane Brunet, President and Vice President of the Montreal Association of School Principals (AMDES).
With Marie-Eve Morasse