Wed Jan 12, 2022 – 1:53 pm EST
OTTAWA, Ontario (LifeSiteNews) — Pressure from top pediatric organizations, the public, and big-city municipal politicians helped in getting schools in the Canadian province of Ontario to re-open for in-person learning next week.
On Friday, a trio of pediatric organizations criticized the Ontario government under Premier Doug Ford for keeping schools closed to in-person learning, instead going with what they called “harmful” online learning.
“Online learning is harmful. Social isolation and prolonged in-person school closures have precipitated increases in unhealthy behaviours — such as excessive screen time, reduced physical activity, and substance use — and prevented children and youth from engaging in protective behaviours, such as connecting with their peers, participating in sports and recreation, and celebrating milestones,” reads a joint statement signed by seven doctors from the Canadian Paediatric Society, the Paediatrics Section of the Ontario Medical Association, and the Paediatricians Alliance of Ontario.
“As paediatricians, our life’s work is protecting the health and well-being of children and youth … Yet over the course of the pandemic, we have learned that certain decisions and measures pose a far greater risk to children and youth than the virus itself.”
On January 10, Ford’s office confirmed in a statement that in-person instruction would resume on January 17.
Students in all grades will be mandated to wear masks all day, according to the Ministry of Education, and can only remove them when outside, or when eating or drinking.
Dr. Paul Elias Alexander argued that mask wearing in
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