Good morning from the Forest City — yes, the other London. The one that actually matters to us. Let's get into it.
### Your Kids Might Not Be Showing Up to School Anymore
So, you know how we all *talk* about kids these days, their screens, their focus? Well, listen to this: new data is showing that attendance for high schoolers, and even elementary students, is absolutely plummeting across Ontario. And look, I've been covering this city for a decade; we've seen trends come and go, but this feels different. Education Minister Paul Calandra just announced these sweeping changes to our English school boards, even tying class attendance to final grades. You gotta wonder if it's too little, too late.
This isn't just some abstract provincial problem; this is a London problem, an EOA issue, a north end issue. Think about it: * What does this mean for our kids at Saunders, or H.B. Beal, or even the little ones at Ryerson? * How does this impact the future workforce here? We're a city that thrives on education, with Western and Fanshawe drawing talent. * Are we going to see a ripple effect on community programs that rely on school engagement?
We always pride ourselves on being a strong community, but you can't have a strong community if the foundational blocks, like consistent education, are cracking. When kids aren't showing up, it's not just a missed lesson; it's a missed connection, a missed opportunity to be part of something bigger. It’s the kind of thing that worries you when you’re walking through Victoria Park and see all the families.
What's the real 'so what' for us, here in London? It means we need to ask ourselves, as parents, as neighbours, as a city, what are we doing to keep our kids engaged? Because if they're not in the classroom, where are they? And what are they learning?
Brendan Fanshawe-Okafor, MiTL Sports Desk.
My colleague Leslie is breaking down what this means for local schools every morning. Catch her live at mornings.live.