NDP Education Critic Rosario Marchese criticized the Minister of Education for allowing the Arrowsmith program to be cut from the Toronto Catholic District School Board’s budget.

Arrowsmith is a daily cognitive exercise program that helps students to overcome problems with reading, comprehension, mathematics, logical reasoning, and dyslexia among others. Studies indicate that a majority of children who complete the Arrowsmith program are able to completely overcome learning difficulties – no longer requiring special education programs.

Despite the success of the Arrowsmith program, Norbert Hartmann, the TCDSB supervisor appointed by Minister of Education Kathleen Wynne, is expected to announce today that it will be cut.

“Parents of the TCDSB students who participate in the Arrowsmith program are astounded,” said Marchese. “This is a program that achieves positive results for students.”

Minister Wynne continues to side-step responsibility, claiming that this is a board decision.

“The fact of the matter is special education programs such as Arrowsmith are being cut by cash-strapped school boards in order to save money,” said Marchese. “Mr. Hartmann is simply following direction provided by the minister who appointed him.”

“Special education programs such as Arrowsmith improve the lives of children with learning difficulties,” concluded Marchese. “You can’t put a price on that.”