The Ontario government is making some drastic changes.  It is cutting 150 million dollars from the Toronto school budget.  But how does it affect us, the students?  Will the idea proposed by the Toronto Board of Education-to close 33 pools- affect the students of Etobicoke Collegiate?  The best way to find out the truth is to simply ask the students of Etobicoke Collegiate what they really think of the possible pool closures.
 Random students from grades nine to OAC were asked the following question: “As you know, the Toronto Board of Education needs to cut around 150 million dollars under the new funding formula.  Should they close the 33 pools, or should they cut the money from elsewhere in the school and if so, where”?
The results were surprising.  A little over 85% of the people asked said that the school pools should be closed.  The remaining percentage said that the money should be cut from either computers or from particular clubs.
 This leads to the questions of why do people want the pools to be closed?  The reasoning behind it varied a bit, but generally stayed the same.  The students were thinking about the future.  They were thinking that if the pools stayed open, then it would mean cuts in other places that are already being stretched to the maximum.  Others say that the pools that are being shut down are not in very good shape anyway.  Others still had alternative ideas.  One student, Martin Schultz, said that the provincial government should only have the School Board close the pools that are rundown and are not being used to their full potential and then cut the rest of the money from the extra perks that the provincial politicians get.
 In addition, there was one more question asked: “Do you support the decision of the government giving tax credits to people that go to private schools?” The answer was not a surprise, considering there could be over a total of $400 million given to parents of children who go to private schools while simultaneously, $700 million cut from the public schools.  A whopping 80% of students asked did not agree with that political decision because in the long run it could mean additional cuts from the public school system and if the pools end up going, who knows what could be next.
 Most students do agree that it is unfortunate that the school pools may be closed because it was a great place where people could go and swim.  However, they figure it is better than having no books in the library or no computers in the school.  All in all, the students of ECI have their reasons for why they do or do not want the pools to be closed.  It can be basically summed up with what Stuart Smith of ECI said when asked for his opinion: “I got along fine without school pools, so other kids can too.”  This gives you something to think about.