THE FACTS WITHOUT FEAR OR FAVOUR Bethune Journal

“Anyone Can Wear The Mask” -> Spiderman! Pg. 7

You, Your Mind, and Healthy Living -> Are you healthy? Pg. 8

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SPRING 2019 ISSUE 1

THE FACTS WITHOUT FEAR OR FAVOUR

NEWS Pg. 2 NEWS Beyond Bethune

ENTERTAINMENT What Was It All About? Pg. 4 CLASS SIZES 176 elementary school teach- Math was employed in the ers have received layoff no- classroom found that in the EDITORIALS In an attempt to reduce the tices. The TDSB is expected 2017 results of the test, only Pg. 8 amount spent on the prov- to face similar changes pro- 62% of Grade 3 students and ince’s education system, the portional to the district’s a disappointing half of the ART CORNER biggest change is not to the size, with 800 secondary Grade 6 population met the curriculum itself, but to the school and 216 elementary provincial standard. In Grade Pg. 19 environment in which the school teachers facing layoffs. 9, 83% of Academic kids and learning is done, with an in- Ford states that the changes a mere 44% of Applied stu- WEATHER crease in class sizes. In On- in class size will result in a dents meet the standard. Pg. 12 tario, the average class sizes reduction of 3,475 teaching While these statistics are dis- in secondary schools are re- positions, a statement contra- appointing on their own, a six ported to be at 22 students, dictory to the original an- -year study conducted be- THE BETHUNE while elementary schools nouncement, though this tween 2010 and 2016 found JOURNAL TEAM contain about 23 per class, change is projected to that with 27 000 students putting Ontario at the top, save $851 million over four between students in Ontario boasting Canada’s lowest years. and. Quebec, Ontario stu- student-to-teacher ratio. dents’ Math marks remained KAUTHAR MO- With Ford’s changes, the MATH CURRICULUM relatively stagnant while HAMMAD average secondary school Quebec’s saw a significant class size will increase to 28, Prior to his election as On- climb. While Ford’s changes Brandishing signs and while class in Grades 4-8 will tario’s premier, Ford’s cam- to our math curriculum are in equipped with a megaphone rise to 24. With this new paign attracted a lot of atten- light of these statistics, not and the power of collective minimum number of students tion with his views on the much information has been student voices, numerous per class, many high school previous Liberal govern- given as to how exactly these Bethune students walked out courses in the arts and hu- ment’s math curriculum. changes will be implement- of school on Thursday, April manities may not be run, due Discovery Math, a method ed , besides a promise to re- 4th to protest the govern- to a lack of general interest currently employed, allows vert to the fundamentals of ment’s recent changes to edu- and an inability by local students to reach their own math. cation policy. schools to run smaller classes. conclusions. Mary Reid, as- sistant professor of math edu- These changes primarily tar- Revealed in mid-March by The motive for these changes, cation at the University of get students and teachers, and Doug Ford’s Progressive however, is a bit muddled, as Toronto’s Ontario Institute both parties have chosen to Conservative government, when this change was official- for Studies in Education, ex- make their voices heard. The the drastic changes have been ly announced, Education plains that it’s “about having degree to which this protest met with distaste by students Minister Lisa Thompson stat- students engage in problem- has affected Ford’s decisions and teachers alike. Changes ed that no teacher would lose solving, open-ended, authen- is unclear at the moment, involving high school class their job as a result of the tic, rich problems”. While though with his insistence in sizes, math curriculum across increased class size, thus dis- this unconventional method the belief that teachers were grades and even the imple- missing the government’s of teaching may appear inno- behind the walkouts gives us mentation of an education perceived motive: to vative and beneficial, math some insight as to where edu- system reliant on emerging cut costs by laying off teach- scores on standardized tests cation in Ontario is headed. technology have caused many ers. Since then, it has been across the province have been More info can be found at to question the implication of reported that from Peel re- dismal for several years. Ex- @bci_saysno on Instagram. these sudden changes. gion alone, nearly 193 sec- amining the results of the ondary school teachers and EQAO tests since Discovery 2

SPRING ISSUE 2019 Taking Baby Steps in Genome Editing - What

JESSICA YE experiment on human be- ings that is not morally or When Chinese scientist He ethically defensible”. An Jiankui was revealed to have investigation launched by made the world’s first ge- the Chinese government nome-edited babies in No- found He Jiankui guilty of vember 2018, the an- “seriously violating” state nouncement was met with laws for “personal fame and shock and outrage by scien- fortune.” The university tists around the world. where Jiankui conducted research has fired him from A researcher studying ge- its campus and issued a nome-editing in Southern statement saying that he University of Science and performed his experiment Technology of China, He "outside of the campus and Jiankui experimented on was not reported to the human embryos using University nor the Depart- He Jiankui at the Human Genome Editing Conference CRISPR-cas9, a genome ment". Jiankui now report- in Hong Kong on November 28, 2018. He revealed editing tool, and tried to edly faces the death penalty that he had made the world’s first genome-edited ba- give them resistance against for corruption and bribery, HIV by impairing the genet- but denies this, stating that ic pathway that allows HIV he is safe. However, wheth- lead to future health prob- scientist to have genetically to spread in the body. He er or not he will face capital lems. A report published by edited a baby, but he cer- impregnated a woman with punishment is still up to the Associated Press claims tainly will not be the last. the embryos, and in a new speculation. that people who do not car- There are a few countries YouTube video, claims that ry a normal CCR5 gene where genome-editing hu- the twin girls are healthy Due to privacy laws, the have a higher risk of catch- mans is “technically legal” and with their parents. identity of the parents and ing the West Nile virus and with loose rules, but it is their twin girls remain pro- dying of the flu. heavily frowned upon. One In an interview with the tected, but Jiankkui firmly thing’s for sure -- there Associated Press, He ex- believes that his actions Genetically modifying hu- needs to be more caution plained, “I feel a strong re- were justified. The father of man embryos is an extreme- and control in the field of sponsibility that it's not just the twins is HIV-positive ly controversial topic, with biomedicine to ensure that to make a first, but also and did not want his chil- one side believing that it is no ethics are violated. make it an example. Society dren to suffer the same way crucial to research and de- will decide what to do he has. Additionally, the velop the potential to create next". However, his actions HIV genetic pathway, also a perfect and healthy socie- are heavily condemned by known as CCR5, has al- ty, while others deem it to scientists and the Chinese ready been thoroughly stud- be too risky and evil to con- government. Dr. Kiran ied, providing him the “real- demn a human life to muta- Musunuru, a University of world medical value” to dis- tions, since the results of Pennsylvania gene editing able it. Although it may genome editing are near expert, describes the editing sound like a good plan, ge- impossible to predict. He as "unconscionable [...] an netic modification can easily Jiankui is the first confirmed 3

THE FACTS WITHOUT FEAR OR FAVOUR ENTERTAINMENT The Remarkable Kid Gorgeous

KATHY YANG

“You have the moral back- bone of a chocolate éclair,” the iconic comedian said as he earned a big laugh and applause. Although still fun- ny without context, this line is funnier with it, and you can find the context in his 2015 Netflix special The Comeback Kid. This and his other Netflix specials New in Town and Kid Gorgeous at Ra- dio City are all beloved and critically acclaimed, with Kid time on March 2, 2019, and Spider-Ham in his universe. “It’s like there’s a horse Gorgeous winning a Prime- it’s strangely fitting as he He’s perfectly cast as he loose in a hospital!” is how time Emmy Award for Out- was a writer on the show takes the character that did- he explains the current pres- standing Writing for a Vari- from 2008-2013 albeit hav- n’t necessarily have much ident of the United States. ety Special. He’s a pig in a ing little screen time. He screen time and still gave However staying true to Spider-Man movie, an awk- showed off his amazing per- him a unique and hilarious himself, the humour is still ward teenager on Big Mouth, formance and delivery and personality. connected directly to its an old man from Oh, Hello - it’s truly a testament to inoffensiveness; no names he is stand-up comedian what he’s achieved. John Mulaney’s comedy are mentioned at all, and it’s John Mulaney. itself is just so funny, yet so entirely done as an analogy His Netflix specials are all inoffensive. He openly ad- using animals. John Mulaney is a household popular and well-received, mits that he wants to be name now, but just a couple but he also takes part in liked by everyone, and to He’s a combination of amaz- of years ago, he was the cre- Netflix’s critically-acclaimed quote what his wife said to ing writing and performing ator, writer, producer, and Big Mouth. Written and pro- him, “walking around with that’s truly rare to see, and the main character of the duced by his longtime friend [John] is like walking around it is no wonder that he sold failed sitcom Mulaney. With Nick Kroll, Mulaney voices with someone who’s run- out seven nights at Radio negative reviews and com- one of the main characters, ning for mayor of nothing”. City Music Hall and count- parisons to Seinfield, the Andrew, an awkward teen- Most of his humour is self- less other tour dates. You show was cancelled after just ager struggling through pu- deprecating, yet he still dis- can watch his specials and one short season. Many as- berty. plays a charming confidence Big Mouth on Netflix, and sumed this would be the last that differentiates him as an look forward to his upcom- they heard from the comedi- Mulaney made his film de- entertainer. ing tour dates. Did I men- an, but they were very much but in 2018 with the Oscar- tion that he plays an old man mistaken. winning Spider-Man: Into the Mulaney is mostly apolitical, in a Broadway show? You Spider-Verse. He played Peter yet ironically, one of the might want to check that Mulaney hosted Saturday Porker, a looney tunes funniest bits of Kid Gorgeous out, too. Night Live for the second styled pig who is the hero is exclusively about politics. 4

SPRING ISSUE 2019

Rising Artists of 2019 RAIDA FARDOUS “Don’t Smile At Me” was H.E.R rose to fame by par- XXL 2018 Freshman Class, For anyone living in 2019, released. It consisted of nine ticipating in Radio Disney’s alongside others like Lil music is probably an essen- songs, featuring her brother Next Big Thing in 2009. She Pump, Ski Mask the Slump tial part of life. Music is un- and , who is an later signed to RCA Rec- God, and BlocBoy JB. His deniably important in im- American rapper. Some of ords at the age of 14 and debut studio album, The proving mood, relieving the songs have appeared in released a single, Never Story was released on stress, or easing anxiety; it movies and TV shows, like "Something To Prove", un- March 10, 2017 and he re- could also simply just be a 13 Reasons Why and Shad- der her real name in 2014. leased his second album Di- pastime if someone is owhunters. Her other singles, She re-emerged in 2016 and Caprio 2 on November 26, bored. There are hundreds such as “Lovely”, featuring released her first debut EP, 2018 to positive reviews of genres of music and an Khalid and “You Should See “H.E.R Vol. 1”. She then and critical acclaim. There enormous industry of artists Me In A Crown” secured released subsequent EPs is a lot of promise for his that is continuously grow- spots on the Billboard Hot “H.E.R. Volume 2”, “The B future as he continues his ing. Currently, there is a lot 100 list. Her first album, Sides”, “I Used To Know outstanding performance. of rising talent from young When We All Fall Asleep Where Her: The Prelude”, and “I artists in various different Do We Go came out on Used To Know Her: Part Music can soothe the bro- genres of music. These art- March 29. 2”. kenhearted, motivate run- ists are climbing the charts, ners and kickoff the most records, and quickly rising Another artist taking the Finally, an emerging new epic dance parties, but it to fame. world by storm is H.E.R. rapper is quickly rising to also has some serious scien- Gabriella Wilson was born fame with his fast-rap style tific benefits for our health An artist who is currently on June 27, 1997 in Vallejo, and perfectly controlled and overall well- making her mark in is Billie California. She is a singer/ speed. Destin Choice being. Researchers at Stan- Eilish. At only 17 years of songwriter who is currently Route, known by stage ford University found that age, this singer/songwriter making plenty of noise in name JID was born on Oc- listening to music seems to has become one of the fast- the music industry. Her ca- tober 31, 1990 in , be able to change brain est artists to rise to fame. reer recently reached a Georgia. He is part of the functioning to the same ex- Billie Eillish Pirate Baird milestone in December musical collective Spillage tent as medication. Re- O’Connell was born in Los when she was nominated for Village, founded by searchers also tracked 557 Angeles, California on De- Best New Artist at the 2019 EarthGang in 2010. He is participants with chronic cember 28, 2001. She start- Grammy Awards (along also signed to J. Cole's sleep disorders and found ed to make music and write with four other nomina- and that sleep quality was im- songs at age 11, being in- tions). H.E.R. is an acro- , where proved significantly with spired by her older brother, nym for Having Everything he began gaining recogni- music. They concluded that Finneas O’Connell, who Revealed. She remained tion after releasing many “music can assist in improv- already wrote, performed, faceless on purpose; “The individual projects. ing sleep quality of patients and made his own songs mystery is a metaphor for with acute and chronic sleep with his band. Today, the who I am, or who I was at JID was a late bloomer ca- disorders.” two siblings are a great ar- the time of creating the pro- reer-wise, from being tistic duo. At age 14, Billie ject,” referring to her first kicked out of his parents In a nutshell, music is not had signed a record deal EP, “H.E.R., Vol. 1”. house, sleeping in a car at only a pleasurable activity, with Interscope records and one point, to funding his but it’s also proven to im- started her career. She has gotten massive sup- musical career with jobs prove health in various port for her first EP, Focus delivering pizzas and work- ways. With that being said, Billie’s first song, “Ocean from other public figures ing at call centers. Never- there are several artists to Eyes” was released in 2017, like Alicia Keys, Rihanna, theless, JID has been in a look out for in 2019 and and soon after, her first EP, and even Barack Obama. BET Awards cypher and the the upcoming months. 5

SPRING ISSUE 2019 5 High School-Based Movies

JADELYN WANG the fashion is exquisitely fun day together in deten- that 10 Things I Hate About to look at. The movie holds tion. The film shows just You is as modern as ever. If High school... A tumultu- some pretty valuable mes- what can happen when five that doesn’t give you ous, stress-filled, fickle part sages for teens to keep in strangers - a rebel, princess, enough incentive to watch of life that we all experience mind after watching as well. brain, jock, and outcast - the film, just know that the for four long years. Teens Now go put on a leather have a chance to tell their main leads include young are spending a good chunk jacket and get some dancin’ own stories amongst each Heath Ledger and Joseph of our lives worrying about shoes on, Stud (if you didn’t other. The Breakfast Club Gordon-Levitt… I mean, tests, assignments, and dra- get that, come back after masterfully balances the there’s really nothing to ma in our social lives, home- watching Grease). genres of comedy and drama “hate” about this movie at work, and relationships. through the perspectives of all. Luckily, we have movies in If musicals aren’t really up teenagers. “Brat Pack” which we can find comfort. your alley, you can try members, Molly Ringwald, Finishing off this list is - yes, High school can be pretty watching Heathers, a dark Emilio Estevez, Judd Nel- you guessed it, Mean tiring but at times can be comedy film about a teen son, Anthony Michael Hall, Girls. I’m not really sure equally exciting. So if girl named Veronica and her and Ally Sheedy all bring the how it’s even possible to you’re feeling a little lost or burning hatred for her pop- well-written script to life avoid any forms of this mov- just looking for a good ular clique’s vicious behav- through performances of ie for fifteen years straight laugh, here’s a list of five iours. The iconic Winona sincerity. because it’s practically on high school-based teen mov- Ryder shows just what her every screen you look ies that you should watch character is capable of when Moving on to the 90s, 10 at. Instagram, Twitter, and before leaving this institute angst meets violence. Ve- Things I Hate About You is even cable television cannot for good. ronica finds herself in deep another must-see Rom-Com seem to get enough of this trouble after realizing her -Drama. It’s loosely based teen comedy. Lindsay Lohan Let’s start off with the 70s boyfriend Jason, played by on The Taming of the Shrew plays Cady Heron, a teen classic, Grease. This film is Christian Slater, is a mur- and features Kat Stratford, from Africa who moves to probably one of the first derous individual. This film played by Julia Stiles, as an Illinois with her par- “teen-based” films to be- takes all the negative stereo- intelligent and caustic teen ents. She finally gets to ex- come popular with every types and taboos of high who has no plans of dating perience a public high generation. Starring John school - salacious gossip, the anyone. Unfortunately, her school and all its obstacles, Travolta and Olivia Newton backstabbing of friends, vol- younger sister Bianca has to including a popularly cruel -John as Danny and Sandy, atile relationships - and abide by house rules of not clique called “The Plastics”. Grease is an upbeat musical transforms it into a teen cult having a boyfriend until Kat Audiences get to have a romantic comedy that fol- classic. British film magazine does. There’s some serious good laugh and indulge in lows a young high school Empire, has named Heathers plotting that ensues in order the infamous teen quotes couple in the 1950s. Its one of the greatest movies to get Kat and her chilly this movie provides. Mean soundtrack is considered the of all time. personality to fall for some- Girls is just a wildly enter- best part of the movie and it one, and the charming Pat- taining film that we’ll never even earned them an Acade- Sticking with the 80s genre, rick Verona, might have a get tired of. my Award nomination for we’re now going to look at chance at doing so. Even Best Original Song. The The Breakfast Club. This though the movie is from To sum it up, we’ve got dialogue has just the right movie follows five high two decades ago, the hu- Grease, Heathers, The Breakfast amount of adolescent dra- school students of different morous dialogue and come- Club, 10 Things I Hate About ma, the songs and choreog- social backgrounds and up- dic performances brought You, and Mean Girls raphy are super catchy, and bringings as they spend the by a talented cast, proves (duh!). This blend of ro- 6

THE FACTS WITHOUT FEAR OR FAVOUR “Anyone Can Wear The Mask” How Spider-Man: Into The Spider-Verse mance, comedy, and drama will definitely take the ANNA YANG found powers and responsi- Verse also changed the way weight off of stresses and bilities more than a few people viewed Spider-Man. school for a bit. If you’ve The 91st Academy Awards, times, an atypical feature of Spider-Man wasn’t just Pe- seen all five of these mov- also known as the Oscars, superheroes in movies. By ter Parker anymore. It was ies, congratulations! You took place on February 24, the end of the movie, Miles also Miles Morales, along- can probably appreciate 2019. Many people and learns that being a superhe- side other characters like every one of these films films received awards that ro isn’t just about having Penelope Parker and Spider- and recognize each of their night, including Black Pan- cool powers -- it’s about Gwen. In fact, only up until individual grandeurs. If ther for Best Costume De- using those powers to do recently did most people you haven’t seen them, well sign, Best Production De- what’s right. It feels as even see Spider-Man as you now have a great list of sign, and Best Original Mu- though the viewers were more than Peter Parker. high school must-watches. sic Score, Rami Malek for growing and learning along- Miles brings hope to all col- Best Actor in a Leading side Miles, making him an oured kids who dreamt of Role, and Spider-Man: Into even more endearing char- being superheroes. He rep- The Spider-Verse for Best Ani- acter. The concept of resents Afro-Latinos, seen mated Feature Film. watching Miles go from ze- speaking Spanish to his ro to hero (quite literally) mother and friends multiple Spider-Man: Into The Spider- also taught the viewers an- times at the beginning of the Verse was an immediate hit, other lesson: that anyone movie. Miles being biracial many arguing that it was the can wear the mask. showed that Spider-Man best Spider-Man movie to didn’t have to be white: date. The movie expanded It might sound a little cryp- anyone of any race could be the idea of what a typical tic just putting that out Spider-Man. hero should be like, and there, so let me explain. inspired fans everywhere. When Miles stated that any- At the end of the day, de- When we think of superhe- one can wear the mask, that spite so many people believ- roes, we usually think of even the viewers could wear ing that the award for Best people like Captain America the mask, he was telling us Animated Feature Film or Batman, both fully grown that anyone can step up and would go to Incredibles 2 or adults who seem to always become the best version of Ralph Breaks The Internet, have everything under con- themselves. It taught the Spider-Man: Into The Spider- trol at all times. With Miles children in the theatre that Verse took home the award Morales, our protagonist in they could reach their high- instead, and with it, our Spider-Man: Into The Spider- est point if they just be- hearts. Verse, we have the complete lieved in themselves. Even opposite of the typical hero though it sounds a little un- persona. Miles is a fourteen- realistic to an older audi- year-old freshman that ence, it’s a good message doesn’t even learn how to for the younger audience, control his superhuman abil- allowing themselves to ities until about halfway work a little harder and to through the movie. The never give up. viewers see Miles stumble and struggle with his new- Spider-Man: Into The Spider- 7

THE FACTS WITHOUT FEAR OR FAVOUR EDITORIAL Struggles of Being an Ambivert SARAH AN LILI YAO when interacting with oth- loved ones instead. This

ers. Despite making up only can, therefore, prompt an You may categorize humans Health has many subcatego- around twenty-six percent awkward situation for an into two groups -- those ries, but what does it mean of the world, introverts are ambivert because engaging who choose to spend their to be healthy? Perhaps you exceptionally self-aware, in small talk would be trivial typical Friday nights by par- define ‘healthy’ as, “the well drawn to independent activ- and may not show the best tying with their friends, -being of one’s physical and ities, and prefer to have a version of the ambivert, meet up with tinder dates, mental state”. Are you smaller group of friends. based on first impressions. or go out with colleagues healthy? What is a healthy Due to the fact that these On the contrary, very few following their business lifestyle? two are practically polar people would be open to meetings, or those who stay opposites, the majority par- sharing personal details home and either watch a Our definitions of ‘healthy’ ticularly resonate with one about themselves right off new Netflix show, sing their may not be exactly the more than the other. How- the bat to a stranger. Conse- favourite song to their gold- same, but they might not be ever, a small percentage of quently, it leads the ambi- fish, or take a nap. so different. Since elemen- people identify as ambi- vert to feel conflicted as for tary school, we were taught verts. Living a Hannah how to act and come across As Friday nights are known about health living. To Montana scenario, ambi- to new people. Another to be a time to de-stress and name a few, topics such as verts switch and share quali- example of how maintaining have fun, the main differ- nutrition, smoking, and ties of both personality a balance is difficult for an ence between these two mental health. Why do we types, endlessly facing ambivert is their desire to people is where they derive leave this knowledge in our struggles of their own that collaborate and learn from their energy from. Although heads, but refuse to take the rest of the world is others, but also being able both are enjoying them- action? Many of us do not go oblivious to. to work more efficiently selves, their methods to out to exercise, even when when independent. Thus, recharge greatly differ. For we know that it is necessary As an ambivert, several the ambivert must weigh example, extroverts, who in our daily lives. We do characteristics of theirs are a out the pros and cons of comprise up to seventy-four not get enough sleep—we percent of the population, combination of those that each decision. extroverts and introverts decide to stay up all night, enjoy meeting new people, although we know the effect group work, and openly possess. Although many of In a nutshell, an ambivert is the traits found in extro- presented with a variety of it will have the morning communicating their feel- after—and continue this ings through words. Fur- verts and introverts are pos- problems in social environ- itive on their own and suit ments that extroverts and routine. All these examples thermore, they are typically were of physical health. In outgoing, action-oriented, their needs, they become an introverts do not have to issue when they overlap in worry about. Nonetheless, fact, physical health tends to and talkative. To put oneself be the main thought when in their shoes, they tend to an ambivert because they being an ambivert definitely have to seek a balance in has its benefits such as being we think about healthy liv- feel isolated when they are ing. What about mental alone. Thus, whether it’s social settings. For example, flexible, well-liked, and an ambivert looks forward finds it easy to adapt to new health? family, friends, or peers, their spirits are lifted after to meeting and speaking situations. In addition, they with new people like extro- are the bridge between ex- We face disappointments surrounding themselves everyday. Often times, we with people. verts, but similar to intro- troverts and introverts, verts, they are not the best learning how to be empa- may be disappointed in our- On the other hand, intro- at keeping up with small thetic and understand the selves. When this disap- verts take pleasure in being talk. As a result, they value ways that both people inter- pointment builds up, it alone and are more reserved rich conversations with act. leads to poor mental health. 8

SPRING ISSUE 2019

You, Your Mind, and The Overlooked Perks of Being

This is how my past week ductive. Yet there I was, did you see yourself? Per- went—maybe it will help lying in bed, without suffi- haps you should evaluate you connect. I am in the cient sleep nor completed yourself, and think about Gratitude is one of the gems middle of (what feels like) studies. how you are. Are you healthy? that music has given me. an extremely long week. Small accomplishments such Assignments, evaluations Here is the question: why as reaching a high note and being able to play sixteenth and extra-curricular events did I procrastinate even SOPHIA MA notes eventually add up. are piling up. I list down my when I knew that I would Musicians become grateful tasks, and plan a mental only be more anxious later “Sorry, I can’t go, I have for every step they take to schedule for my day. I have on? Why did I procrastinate band rehearsal!” This phrase achieve perfection in their a math test tomorrow, but even when I knew that I has integrated itself into my songs. It induces a sense of my homework questions are would eventually have to do life and is now almost an accomplishment and propels barely completed. I know my work? Why didn’t I start automatic response. Despite music students to continue that I cannot procrastinate earlier? Honestly, I don’t the hour long rehearsals, improving. The gratitude tonight, otherwise I will know. What I have learned corny band jokes, and losing that students learn from drown in work. When I however, is that procrasti- my voice from vocals; mu- music also reflect into other come home from school, I nating did not help me in sic is something I wouldn’t areas of their lives. Music snack on chips and roll any way. I was not confi- give up for the world. requires attention to minute around. There are too many dent with my math test, nor details and appreciation of tasks, but again, I am fully myself. I physically and There are countless studies those details, which is a con- aware that I have to get work mentally felt the effect of showing the benefits of mu- cept that can be applied to done. A few hours pass, but the sleep I lost. But I am sic on your mind; creativity, all aspects of life. I did not get to check off glad, because through that, I higher self-confidence, time many of my tasks. I do not had a and motivation and stress management. It is common belief that mu- review math. Until to why I needed a healthy However, these are often sic will not help students in nighttime, the best time. I lifestyle. Without it, I obvi- changes that we don’t no- their post-secondary appli- do not end up reviewing all ously would not function tice right away. Without cation towards a science or the math questions I would very well. Nonetheless, be- seeing sudden changes, business program despite have liked to. Unable to ing ‘healthy’ is not easy. But many people believe that the fact that this belief has fight my need to sleep, I go with strong motivation, I music has nothing to offer already been dismantled by to bed, disappointed in my- think it is possible. them except the sole pur- countless articles and cases. self. I planned out my day, pose of learning how to play An example of this includes and thought I would be pro- At any point in my story, an instrument or learning students such as Brenden how to sing. These changes Rodriquez and Kwasi Enin, have to be felt. One day who succeeded in their ap- you’ll be going about your plications to top Ivy League life and you’ll realize how schools with their supple- music has shaped your path mental essays about music. in life. It’s the little things However, we forget that that make music so special, every skill we learn can help and are ones that early mu- us in the future. Despite sicians overlook. enrolling in academic

heavy programs, both stu- 9

THE FACTS WITHOUT FEAR OR FAVOUR dents hope to continue their music journeys, simply be- A Puzzling Support System cause it makes them happy. This is an example of how EMILY ZHANG 8 400 children with autism 000 annually pay for $100 music is able to add that are currently in ABA thera- 000 treatment? Where do extra sparkle in our lives. On April 1st, 2019, Ontar- py under this program. they expect the rest of the io’s Progressive Conserva- Unfortunately, that pro- money to come from? The other gems that music tive government will put gram led to a 23 000 person The government has also has given me are all the into action their overhaul of long waitlist for therapy, doubled funding to the five amazing people I’ve met the Ontario Autism Pro- meaning that many families publicly funded diagnostic through my pursuit of mu- gram, which supports the were not receiving the nec- centres for autism across sic. Being trapped in a families and caretakers of essary support for their chil- Ontario, hoping to clear the crowded room with sixty children with autism. dren. 2 400-person waitlist for other people has brought According to the Public The PC government’s new their services. They have me so many of my now Health Agency of Canada, changes aim to cut that allocated extra funding for closest friends. These are one in 66 Canadian children waitlist. Funding will be school boards that must sup- sixty different people with is diagnosed with autism. based on the child’s age, not port new students with au- different personalities, in- Approximately 100 000 severity of disorder. It will tism, since some parents terests, hobbies; who will- people in Ontario, 40 000 not go to therapy specifical- will no longer be able to ing to dedicate their time of them children, are on the ly but to any service of the afford as much therapy time and passion for music. This autism spectrum. family’s choice in the pri- for their children, who may year, the concert band, Autism is characterized by vate sector. Children who have previously only attend- symphonic band, and wind difficulty with social interac- enter the program under the ed regular school for a few ensemble all received gold tions, struggles with com- age of six will be eligible for hours a week but now must at the Ontario Band Associ- munication, and restricted $20 000 a year until they attend class full-time. ation festival. When the and repetitive behaviours. turn six, after which it School districts will receive results were revealed, eve- There is no one way to help drops to $5 000 a year until approximately $12 300 per ryone was cheering. The those with autism, but re- they are eighteen. They student for new students smiles on all our faces ech- search shows that applied have a maximum lifetime with autism transitioning oed out of the band and behavioural analysis (a type amount of $140 000. Chil- from therapy to full-time throughout the entire of therapy) is one effective dren who enter the program school, excluding children school. That’s the power of and widely-used treatment. above the age of six are eli- who already attend on a music. It helps children with autism gible for $5 000 per year up modified schedule of a few learn interaction skills and to a maximum of $55 000 days a week transitioning to Music is a universal lan- overcome the difficulties of before eighteen. full-time. The education guage and can reach the their disorder. It is most Children with severe autism minister has also requested hearts of everyone. It is effective at a young age— may require more than forty for school boards to dedi- something that travels with between two and five years hours of ABA therapy a cate a professional activity you wherever you go and old. It is important. It is a week, which can cost $50 day to train teachers in sup- can be shared with the en- matter of vital healthcare. 000 to $80 000 annually. porting students with au- tire world. It’s never too And it is expensive. Incredi- Add on speech therapy, tu- tism. However, teachers late to start singing or to bly, incredibly expensive. toring, and school aids, and and principals have brought start playing an instrument. The previous Liberal gov- families who are only trying up concerns that these im- Music and the memories it ernment promised in 2016 to support their child are provements will not be provides are timeless. to invest over $500 million looking at a bill upwards of enough to support these into their autism program, $100 000 every year. new students, since teachers maintaining waitlists of Based on just a cursory are already stretched thin in those in need of funding and glance, those numbers do the education system and paying for children’s thera- not seem to match up. How are not specialized in help- py in full with no age caps. can a family receiving $20 10

SPRING ISSUE 2019 ing children with autism— Queen’s Park on March 7, me. cerns education. And it con- one day won’t fix that. The 2019, provoking memories Evidenced by frequent pro- cerns children. president of the Ontario of an incredibly similar pro- tests, it appears that no gov- When it comes to this socie- Public School Boards’ Asso- test in 2016, when many of ernment is able to properly ty’s future, I am hard ciation, Cathy Abraham, the same protestors rallied provide assistance for the pressed to think of some- says that the support teach- against the Liberal govern- numerous children with thing more important than ers can provide these stu- ment’s own changes. autism and their families, those three things. dents “is not going to be the Many parents are terrified even though this appalling same as what they have — that they will no longer be lack of support should be a it’s not the same as inten- able to afford their chil- priority. This problem sive, one-on-one behaviour- dren’s treatments, since doesn’t go away when you al training”. families who previously re- throw funding in its direc- Staff will be overstrained ceived full financial support tion. This problem affects and out of their depth, and for therapy will no longer more than children with students both with and get that kind of subsidiza- autism. This problem con- without autism will suffer in tion. In response to the up- cerns healthcare. It con- their education. roar, the PC government According to an interview announced in early April on CBC, Will and Nev that it would double the Dundas have a young son on $320 million initially invest- the autism spectrum, and he ed into this program receives intensive behav- overhaul and allow a six- ioural therapy under the month extension of ser- previous government’s pro- vices for kids already us- gram. After these changes ing the province’s current take place, their son will programs after the chang- have to move into a regular es go into effect. While school in the TDSB, since these improvements are they cannot afford to pay for good news for parents, treatment on their own. planning for the program That school has already ex- is still in progress. pressed to his parents that If you look at world rank- there will be little or no ings, Canada is one of the support immediately availa- wealthiest nations in the Japanese Scenery ble for their child when he world. Ontario is home to starts school. its capital and its biggest Will and Nev are now try- city. Unlike our neighbour ing to sell their home so to the south, we do not usu- they can afford their son’s ally bankrupt our citizens therapy. for medical treatment. And “We are selling our home to yet, though autism affects be able to support our son. people’s lives just as much What parent would want to as a physical injury or dis- make that decision? What ease does, we force parents options do we have?” Will to sell their homes to afford asks in desperation. the care that is necessary for Activists and parents have their children. already begun protesting That does not sound like a these changes. A group wealthy country—nor a gathered on the lawn at responsible province—to 11

Winter to Spring to Winter

THE FACTS WITHOUT FEAR FAVOUR OR THE WITHOUT FACTS FEAR

Whatever the weather, Whether we want to or not! not! to or want we Whether weather, the Whatever

Crazy Weather in Toronto in Weather Crazy Whether the weather is cold or hot, We’ll weather the weather, weather, the weather We’ll hot, or cold is weather the Whether

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SPRING 2019 ISSUE Toronto’s March Toronto’s

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