School board should be looking into why there is an increase in teacher absenteeism?

Toronto school boards are firing teachers who lie about sick days — and using private investigators to catch them , Dec. 14 How about hiring mental health professionals to help address the increase in teacher abuse by both students and their parents? How about looking into why there is an increase in teacher absenteeism? At a time when there is a huge teacher shortage school boards decide to punish teachers or fire them because of “misuse of sick days.” Most likely the very same teachers who have taken a day off because they have been sworn at or punched, spat on or yelled at and/or blamed for the inappropriate and disrespectful behaviour of their students.

Shame on the union locals who instead of supporting their members, advise them “to adhere to the collective agreement.” Teachers, these are your hard-earned union dues at work. My advice to teachers, take all of your sick days.



Go to the gym, go to the spa. Do whatever it takes to keep you as healthy (mentally and physically) as possible. Your students and their parents will be much better off for it.

Eduarda Madeira, Toronto The GST and HST holiday tax break begins. Here are the items that are covered , Dec. 14 For many Ontario residents, the HST/GST holiday is mostly about cheaper beer, wine and coolers.

Not groceries because a high percentage of the typical grocery basket is already tax exempt, unless the basket is filled with chips, candy and pop. With the tax holiday extending to Feb. 15, people can stock up on alcoholic beverages for the entire year.

Where else can you get a guaranteed 15 per cent on your investment? Or the opportunity to drink 15 per cent more for the same cost? Gary Mooney, Prince Edward County Karon Liu attempted to guide would-be food bank donors in what, and what not to give. Lovely. The fact is, by donating food rather than cash, donors are paying food stores list price.

Were the equivalent given to the food bank in cash, the bank could purchase more wholesale. They could buy exactly the types of food needed and sidestep further enriching Loblaw, Sobey’s etc. Mark Potter, Toronto ‘It’s become uncomfortable for me’: Jordan Peterson, the controversial psychologist, moves from Toronto to the U.

S ., Dec. 13 So, Jordan Peterson is not in a good place and has decided to leave this “totalitarian hellhole” for somewhere better.

If Canada is a “totalitarian hellhole” how do you describe Russia, Afghanistan, Assad’s Syria? Such abuse of the language undermines any academic pretensions you may have but perhaps you are now happy with your celebrity as a right-wing mouthpiece. Like you and the majority of Canadians, I’m not particularly pleased with our present government and the alternatives don’t appeal much either but I think I’ll stay here and tough out this “totalitarian hellhole.” The alternative down south looks much worse especially for the next few years.

Peter Lavin, Toronto Doug Ford warns of ‘cutting off their energy’ to retaliate against tariffs by Donald Trump , Dec. 12 I have read that your government wants to cut electricity and raise the price of lumber and oil to the United States. My answer, do it man, do it.

You will help us get these Republican rightwing nuts out in two years. Gary Abramowicz, Allentown, Pennsylvania.