When Ideology Trumps Education

Thames Valley’s Misplaced Priorities

The Thames Valley District School Board (TVDSB) has once again shown that its priorities lie far from the classroom. Recent reports reveal that 33 secondary teaching positions are being cut to address the board’s $16.5 million deficit. These cuts come on the heels of an earlier decision to eliminate over 100 staff positions, leaving our children to bear the brunt of an education system in crisis.

Let’s be clear: these cuts are devastating. Students will face larger class sizes, canceled courses, and an overburdened teaching staff. The Ontario Secondary School Teachers’ Federation has already warned that the biggest impacts will fall on students, with the cancellation of under-enrolled classes and more split-grade teaching becoming the norm.

Yet, amid this upheaval, one glaring question remains unanswered: why has the DEI (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion) department been left untouched?

TVDSB’s refusal to cut administrative roles or question the value of its DEI programming is indefensible. For years, DEI initiatives have expanded unchecked, often without measurable improvements in student outcomes. Worse, we’ve seen the harmful consequences of these programs in schools across the province. The tragic death by suicide of Principal Richard Bilkszto in Toronto—a direct result of toxic DEI training—should have been a wake-up call. Instead, TVDSB has doubled down, protecting ideology at the expense of education.

A Failure of Leadership
Interim director Bill Tucker has justified these cuts by pointing to the board’s mounting deficit, which has ballooned back to $16.5 million despite earlier reductions. Yet, his claim that the board has already “cut $6.5 million in spending” rings hollow when no significant administrative roles have been eliminated. Reducing furniture budgets and travel expenses is not enough when teaching positions—directly tied to student success—are on the chopping block.

Board Chair Beth Mai and the trustees have also failed in their duty to prioritize students. Cutting classroom resources while maintaining a bloated bureaucracy sends a clear message: ideology matters more than education.

Demanding Accountability
Parents, educators, and taxpayers must demand better. The DEI department must undergo a thorough review, with an honest assessment of its contributions—or lack thereof—to student outcomes. Administrative budgets should face the same scrutiny as teaching positions.

It’s time for the Ministry of Education to intervene. Boards like TVDSB are undermining public education by prioritizing ideology and administrative bloat over the fundamental needs of students.

What’s at Stake
The consequences of these decisions will be felt for years. Students are losing access to quality education in an environment already strained by pandemic disruptions and funding challenges. Teachers are being asked to do more with less, and parents are left questioning the value of an education system that seems more interested in advancing political agendas than preparing children for the future.

We cannot allow this to continue. The future of public education—and our children—depends on strong leadership and a renewed focus on what matters most: teaching and learning.

It’s time to hold TVDSB accountable and demand that our schools put students first.

Take Action Now
If you’re as disgusted as we are by the TVDSB’s misguided priorities, it’s time to make your voice heard. We urge you to email Minister of Education Jill Dunlop at jill.dunlop@pc.ola.org and let her know how upset you are with the TVDSB’s failure to prioritize students over bureaucratic waste. Demand that the Ministry of Education step in to ensure that funding is directed toward classrooms and teaching staff, not ideological departments that are doing nothing to help our children.

The future of our children and the quality of our education system are on the line. Act now to hold the TVDSB accountable and demand that education be about teaching, not politics.

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