Support Spy on Section 23 Classrooms

Published by Toronto Mike on October 18, 2011 @ 10:29 in Guest Blog Entries

guestblog I used to work with a guy who was Customer Support Manager by day and a Support Spy by night. He's asked me to post this guest blog entry about something he's very passionate about.

Remember, the blockquote below is from Support Spy, not Toronto Mike. The opinions expressed aren't mine blah blah blah.

Secret exposed by parents - Demand Section 23 classrooms removed from Elementary Schools

A group of very-high risk teenagers in a program called ‘Section 23’ were placed by the Dufferin Peel Catholic District School Board in my son’s elementary school, including 5 teenagers, one teacher and two Child and Youth Workers.

These classrooms are for very high-risk teenagers whose needs are so severe that regular classrooms are not adequate. This program is in 4 other schools in Dufferin Peel, and the parents at those schools have not been informed. We have recently discovered that this program is also in St. Pio of Pietrelcina and have confirmed the parents are not aware.

With no communication plan, safety plan, explanation of the program, and no one at the school board taking ownership, the parents have increased the pressure. It was discovered that the other school boards in the GTA do not put teenagers in elementary schools, but rather in age appropriate locations. This includes high schools and ‘offsite locations’. Everyone should have an opportunity for education.

Many parents still do not know about this program because there has not been any written notice to parents from the school or school board, explaining the program.

Our request is to move these high-risk teenagers to an age appropriate location in-line with the other school boards.

Please support our concerns by signing our online petition. You can also read more details at my blog.
Support Spy is a Customer Support Manager in the Toronto Area and has been a double-agent for about 15 years. He is a consumer advocate who has learned the secrets of support and can lead you on an easier road to satisfaction. You can read about customer experiences and navigating support systems at his blog.

If you have something to say, you can say it here, just like Support Spy did. Just drop me a line. Contact info is here.

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14 comments

14 Responses to "Support Spy on Section 23 Classrooms"

Support Spy
October 18, 2011 / 11:53

Thanks Toronto Mike! I appreciate the opportunity to guest post.

Elba
October 18, 2011 / 14:40

My sons attend a Dufferin-Peel Catholic District School in south Mississagua. The parent council meeting is tonight. I'll be sure to ask the principal if there is a section 23 classroom in the school. Thanks for posting.

Sam
October 18, 2011 / 15:10

These section 23 kids deserve a chance, right?

We can't tuck them away under some rug, can we?

dale
October 18, 2011 / 19:11

It's an elementary school with 4-10 yr olds & yet teenager's admitted. NOT RIGHT.

Aisha
October 18, 2011 / 19:37

Hey, I was wondering why isn't it right? In your blog you didn't state that they were causing any problems. You are discriminating just because of their age and the title "high-risk" that they were given. These individuals are there to better themselves. I believe if you are afraid they are going to learn 'bad behavior' from these section 23 students. You are looking too far.

Rick C in Oakville
October 18, 2011 / 20:04

The school system is far too secretive to the parents and the taxpayers, from prayers in schools when schools are to be devoid of all hints of religion, to students not being expelled for bullying and other bootable offences. The guy who was the chair of the teachers college disciplinary panel having co-written a teen soft core novel, while sitting in judgement of teachers whose behaviour was grist for his writing mill.
Sorry but the faith I am having in these people to make the right decision is getting seriously eroded with all the back door secrecy.

The Section 23 kids should be in the proper age appropriate school, not with kids of a lesser age.

Mississauga Phil
October 19, 2011 / 11:55

These Section 23 kids of course deserve a chance, but not across the hall from my JK level son...these kids should be in a setting with their peers. If you don't want to have a special school just for them, they should be placed in a high school setting, not around Impressionalbe children. Does anyone know which 5 peel schools have this program?

Anonymous
October 19, 2011 / 13:27

@Mississauga Phil.

St. Pio of Pietrelcina has a Section 23 classroom. I don't know the other schools.

Mississauga Phil
October 19, 2011 / 16:25

@ Anonymous - Thanks anyways, I'm going to go have a talk with my son's principal and make sure that this is not going on in his school...

Support Spy
October 19, 2011 / 18:32

@Mississauga Phil Please post or email me if you do find out the names of any of the other schools with Section 23.

I appreciate everyone's comments. It's good to keep the dialogue going on this. The lack of transparency from this school board is very concerning to me.

It should encourage everyone to take an active interest in their children's school and not assume that everything is being done in the best interest of the children.

Mississauga Phil
October 19, 2011 / 19:27

@ Support Spy - Christ The King Elementry in Mississauga is clean. I couldn't find a contact email on your blog, let me know if I can be of any help.

Rick C in Oakville
October 19, 2011 / 21:15

@ Support Spy. I had never heard of this initiative until you posted it up, I wonder what other policies fly under the radar that the average parent doesn't have a clue exist.

Thank you!

Support Spy
October 22, 2011 / 15:41

@ Mississauga Phil - I appreciate the follow up! The TDSB posts the names of the schools they use, so this privacy shield the Dufferin Peel Board is using, is unwarranted. My email is 'admin at supportspy dot com' in case you want to keep in contact.

@Rick C - Good question. This was posed at the school board meeting at St. Vincent de Paul. The board refused to answer.

Support Spy
October 22, 2011 / 15:46

@Aisha - you can read all about why 100+ parents so far (for a school of 220 kids) have signed the written petition. The two main concerns are:

- there is no communication or safety plan

- high school youth do not belong in an elementary school as is the policy of all the other GTA boards. There are many other places to put these teenagers that they can be proud of, and call their own.

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