Ontario school board apologizes after four-year-old student walks home alone
A school board east of Toronto is apologizing after a four-year-old student walked home alone during lunchtime earlier this week.
Pickering, Ont. mother Victoria McDonald told CTV News Toronto she and her husband were sitting in their living room on Monday at around 1:15 p.m. when the front door opened.
“We saw his head pop in and we were just kind of confused. Both of us thought maybe like a teacher escorted him home,” McDonald said.
The preschooler explained he had walked the 10-minute journey home from Glengrove Public School by himself -- which includes what McDonald described as a “busy” four-way stop sign intersection -- while his class played outside during lunch because he was thirsty.
- Download our app to get local alerts to your device
- Get the latest local updates right to your inbox
“We’re upset… We just can't believe that happened. A million things could have gone wrong,” McDonald said. “He could have been kidnapped or hit by a car.”
The parents said they then walked their son back to class, at which point he had been off school property for more than 20 minutes.
McDonald said neither of the two school employees who were supervising the children at the time had noticed the student was missing.
“Obviously they weren't paying attention,” she said.
After speaking with the school’s administration, McDonald said the principal suggested cutting outdoor playtime during lunch to avoid a similar incident in the future, which she argued “isn’t fair.”
“I mean, it's not the kids’ fault, it’s the teachers that weren't paying attention and doing their job.”
The parents said they’ve since heard from their son’s teacher -- who was one of those supervising the children at the time of the incident -- and she apologized.
Moreover, in an email to CTV News Toronto, the Durham District School Board (DDSB) said it was aware of the incident and they are currently investigating.
“The safety and well-being of our students is our top priority,” a spokesperson for the DDSB said, “The school administration has taken immediate steps at the school level to address this and has put in place additional precautions to prevent something like this from happening again.”
“We extend our sincere apologies to the family impacted by this incident.”
Meanwhile, McDonald said she and her husband have spoken to their son and explained that he should speak to a teacher if he needs something.
“But I mean, he's four, it's not his fault,” she said.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
'A step forward': New screening criteria for sperm donors takes effect
Canadians looking to grow their families with the assistance of sperm or egg donations should soon have more options for donors as the federal health agency does away with longstanding restrictions criticized as discriminatory.
What is whooping cough and should Canadians be concerned as Europe declares outbreak?
There is currently a whooping cough epidemic in Europe, with 10 times as many cases compared to the previous two years. While an outbreak has not been declared nationwide in Canada, whooping cough is regularly detected in the country.
Ontario Provincial Police arrest 64 suspects in child sexual exploitation investigation
Ontario Provincial Police say 64 suspects are facing a combined 348 charges in connection with a series of child sexual exploitation investigations that spanned the province.
'Summer of discontent': Federal unions vow to fight new 3-day a week office mandate
Federal unions are launching legal challenges and encouraging public sector workers to file "tens of thousands" of grievances over the new mandate requiring federal workers to return to the office at least three days a week in the fall.
Watch fighter jet pilots pummel fake enemy ship off coast of Philippines
The United States and Philippines held annual joint-training drills just off the Southeast Asian nation’s western coast on Wednesday. Military forces sunk a 'mock' enemy warship – the BRP Lake Caliraya, which was a decommissioned tanker made in China.
U.S. presidential candidate RFK Jr. had a brain worm, has recovered, campaign says
Independent U.S. presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. had a parasite in his head more than a decade ago, but has fully recovered, his campaign said, after the New York Times reported about the ailment.
'Ozempic babies': Reports of surprise pregnancies raise new questions about weight loss drugs
Numerous women have shared stories of 'Ozempic babies' on social media. But the joy some experience in discovering pregnancies may come with anxiety about the unknowns.
Rookie goalie Arturs Silovs to start for Canucks in Game 1 vs. Oilers
Rookie goalie Arturs Silovs will start in net for the Canucks as Vancouver kicks off a second-round series against the Edmonton Oilers Wednesday night.
OPINION What King Charles' schedule being too 'full' to accommodate son suggests
Prince Harry, the Duke of Sussex, has made headlines with his recent arrival in the U.K., this time to celebrate all things Invictus. But upon the prince landing in the U.K., we have already had confirmation that King Charles III won't have time to see his youngest son during his brief visit.