Efforts are intensifying to preserve one of Toronto's few high school film programs, as parents and students at Earl Haig Secondary School unite to voice their concerns. The Claude Watson Film Arts program, recognized as one of only two specialized film programs in the city, has faced cuts for incoming students, prompting significant pushback from the school's community.
Jack Steinhart, a Grade 12 film arts student, expressed his confusion regarding the decision, stating, "I felt confused. I felt like it makes no sense that this would happen." Olive Maeno-McGrath, a Grade 11 student in the film arts program, echoed this sentiment, saying, "We were just all very upset and frustrated that people weren’t giving us the answers we wanted."
In an effort to rally support and save the program, students have initiated a petition, launched a website, and created videos to gain traction for their cause. Despite these efforts, they have struggled to make headway until recently, when parent involvement increased significantly. "A group of parents decided that they needed some help getting heard," stated Andree Weisman, a parent of a Grade 11 film arts student and one of the leaders of the initiative to preserve the film program.
Weisman explained that parent advocates have made numerous attempts to contact school officials for clarification and to urge the decision to be reversed, but have mostly been met with silence. The recent appointment of a supervisor for the school board has further complicated their efforts. "We had the support of our trustee and then lost contact when the supervisor was appointed. So we’ve been struggling," Weisman added.
The Toronto District School Board (TDSB) has indicated that the cut to the film program is a response to growing enrollment pressures at Earl Haig, which is currently operating at full capacity. A school spokesperson explained, "With Grade 9 capped at approximately 100 students, it is not possible to maintain five separate streams, which would have seen about 20 students in each. As a result, the school decided to reduce the number of streams to four."
Parents contest the decision to cut the Film Arts program, questioning the criteria that led to this choice, especially given the high demand for artistic programs and the limited number of options available. Weisman mentioned that a dedicated group of ten parents is working to establish a committee to present their concerns to the TDSB at a parent involvement advisory committee meeting scheduled for the next week.
Rachel Nir, another parent involved in the movement, emphasized the importance of not losing such a program for the community, stating, "For an entire region north of Bloor [Street] to lose a program means that they have a big disadvantage for their future plans." Anna Gorka, the parent of a Grade 10 film student, echoed this sentiment as she added her voice to the ongoing advocacy efforts.
The committee meeting is set to take place on Tuesday night, giving parents a platform to present their concerns and seek answers regarding the program's future. In the meantime, the film students are gearing up for an important event: The Suspense Film Festival, which is slated for Wednesday at 7 p.m. This festival represents a significant opportunity for the students to showcase their work and underscore the importance of the film arts program they are fighting to keep alive.
