Ontario Provincial Election OCTOBER 6 Toronto Teacher ‘Just let me teach...’ Published by the Elementary Teachers of Toronto Volume 2 l Number 1 l OCTOBER 2011 School Community Outreach Night Calling all Teachers

by Carrie Schoemer Why is this election so important? • Your classroom and working conditions are at stake. ccording to recent polls, education •• The current economic crisis has led many politicians to make drastic cuts to public services— is at the bottom of a list of issues • which means cuts to public education. that are on the minds of Ontarians in the lead-up to the October 6 •• We must elect an education-friendly government to maintain the quality of our school system. provincialA election. People are thinking about jobs, the economy, and health care – but not Why go door-to-door? about our classrooms. When I learned this, I • We need to connect with the people who live in the communities where we work. wondered why. Perhaps it’s because Ontario •• The impact of face-to-face contact is strong, especially in a world dominated by technology. schools are doing so well, and rank highly on • international surveys. But we can’t afford to be Why me? complacent and let investment in, and attention to, public education slide, especially as we move •• Teaching is a trusted profession. to a knowledge-based economy that needs a • Teachers know first-hand the impact that cuts highly skilled and educated workforce. • would have on Ontario’s children. I tried to think of a way teachers could make • Teachers have highly developed skills in a difference in this election. It is important for us • presenting ideas in a clear manner. to put education on the minds of Ontario voters to ensure an education-friendly government is How do I participate? elected. So we have to talk to Ontario voters, • Go door-to-door in your school face to face. • catchment area one night in ETT Regional Councillors, supported by our September with your colleagues. Executive Liason Sonia Ellis-Seguin, have spent • Talk to as many people about education the last few months turning the idea into a plan, • as possible. giving up time in the summer to pack kits for • Leave at least 20 each school. These will have been sent to your Building Better Schools • flyers with interested residents. school Steward during the first week of school. The School Community Outreach Night is •• Refer to the map given to your steward. simple: pick a date in your school in the two • Walk in pairs, with a colleague. week period before the election, round up • your colleagues, and walk around your school Will it work? neighbourhood one day after school. Talk to • Together we can make a difference. residents about the importance of education as •• If every school leaves 20 a provincial issue. Tell them you’re a teacher • Building Better Schools flyers who is dedicated to working in their community with interested residents, we will have and teaching their children. Give them a reached out to 10,000 people! brochure that highlights how we can protect and strengthen public education. Encourage them to What do I say? ask candidates about their vision for our schools. It won’t take much time. You might even • The purpose is to put education issues on people’s minds, • so talk about your experience as a teacher. wonder if you were able to make a difference. But if teachers in every school go out into our • Refer to the document Teacher Speaking Notes, communities talking about the importance of • provided by your steward. schools, together we will surely have an impact.

In A New Beginning...... 2 Make the Connection ...... 4 The Streeter...... 9 Ontario Students Head The Future of Education Editorial...... 10 Depends on Your Vote...... 5 this to the Polls...... 2 Education Update...... 11 Track Records of issue Tory Top 10...... 3 Three Governments...... 6 Labour Day Parade ...... 12

Elementary Teachers of Toronto Toronto Teacher | October 2011 |  | TT o r o nn tt oo T T e a c hh ee rr | A New Beginning

by Ellen Peters NDP are promising to take it off pers, saved political cartoons, a few Mrs Morris stepped into the class- electricity and heating, but promis- of them had even drawn their own room and looked around. herry sat at the back of ing is an important word, because cartoons. They were looking forward Sherry pulled out a chair from a the room. Nazia remained we all know they don’t always keep to voting with the Student Vote pro- student’s desk. “Please have a seat.” Sat the front, newspaper them promises.” Avery said. gram on October 4. “No, I’ll just be a minute. Thank article in hand. “Sometimes, they can’t keep “Sydney?” you.” She glanced at her watch. “It’s “I will vote for anyone who low- promises because they see that their “I’m voting for the NDP. I want a just that I’m not comfortable with the ers taxes.” Avery said. promises won’t work. The govern- nice looking premier.” focus on current events. I think Avery “None of the three main parties ment needs the money from HST Sherry’s eyes widened. Well, she and the others are too young to be are talking about getting rid of the to pay for hospitals, school, roads thought, at least she knows what they thinking about government. I don’t HST.” Nazia shrugged her shoulders. all those things. I’m done.” Nazia look like. want him watching the news or read- “Are you sure about that?” Sherry shrugged her shoulders and returned • • • ing newspapers yet. So please change asked. to her seat. your topic for Social Studies.” “Okay,” Nazia rolled her eyes. “Anyone else want to comment?” “Ms Smythe?” “Government is a grade five unit, “Some of the parties are talking Sherry asked. Sherry looked up. “Hello, Mrs Mrs Morris.” about taking it off some things. But Several hands went up. Sherry Morris. Did Avery forget something” “I don’t think it should be. Avery they’re not getting rid of it.” was pleased. She had not expected “No. I want to have a word with loved that Mediaeval unit last year. “Does anyone know which things this government unit and the focus you, if you have a minute?” He built a catapult with his dad. Can’t may be HST free if a certain party on the provincial election to go so “Certainly. Please, come in.” you do something like that?” is elected?” Sherry asked her class. well. But most of her grade four/five Sherry set her pen on the pile of “We will be studying ancient civili- “Avery?” class was very involved and quite unmarked math notebooks and rose zations later this year. You know you “Both the Conservatives and the well informed. They read the pa- from her chair. can discuss the news and how you feel about it with Avery and...” “So you’re not going to stop teach- ing them about political parties and Ontario Students Head to the Polls taxes?” Mrs Morris crossed her arms against her chest. his fall, Ontario’s el- “I’ll show you the curriculum doc- ementary and second- ument from the Ministry of Education Tary students will have and you can see...” Sherry pointed to the opportunity to go to the polls her desk. and cast ballots on the official “I’ve seen enough, thank you! I candidates running in Ontario’s thought if I came to you and asked 40th general election. politely, but I’ll just go talk to Mrs Student Vote is a non-profit, Grey.” non-partisan organization that aims to build the capacity and Sherry followed Mrs Morris out commitment of young Cana- the door. dians to participate in their “I’m too upset to talk to you right democracy. now,” Mrs Morris called. Student Vote’s flagship pro- Sherry watched her walk down the gram is a parallel election for hall. She felt a tap on her shoulder. students under the voting age, She spun around to see Mr Gable, one coinciding with official election of her parents from the previous year. periods. The program combines “Is everything okay?” he asked. in-class learning, family dia- “Mostly,” Sherry replied. “How is logue, media consumption and Noah?” an authentic voting experience. participate and 269,000 students cast students than ever before,” said “Fine. He misses you.” The purpose is to provide young a Student Vote ballot. Taylor Gunn, Chief Election Officer Sherry smiled. “I see him all the Canadians with an opportunity to “This will be our eighth parallel of Student Vote. “It is a privilege time.” experience the democratic process election in Ontario, and we are to receive the support of Ontario “I’m just going to pick him up firsthand and practice the habits of hoping to reach more schools and education stakeholders and our team from daycare, but I thought I’d come informed and engaged citizenship. looks forward to helping teachers in this way and say hi to you.” To date, Student Vote has suc- make the best learning experience “That’s sweet. How have you cessfully designed and coordinated out of this election.” been?” eleven parallel elections. In the Registered schools receive an recent 2011 federal election, 4,300 election package with free learning Mr Gable smiled, slow and wide. schools registered to participate and materials and electoral supplies. “Well, I don’t see you everyday...” 563,000 Student Vote ballots were During the campaign, students learn Sherry felt a flush travel up her cast across about the democratic process and neck. She reached down to pick up a the country. the role of government, and inves- blue crayon shaped eraser from the Ontario tigate the party platforms and local floor. “Did you and Noah spend a lot students candidates. of time at the cottage this summer?” have par- On Student Vote Day, students Mr Gable nodded. “Yes, although I ticipated take on the roles of poll officials and still had to work. You?” in Stu- conduct a vote on the official elec- “Quite a bit. I didn’t take a course dent Vote tion candidates. The results are col- this summer.” programs lected from schools and shared with “Where is your parents’ cottage?” within the media for broadcast and publication Mr Gable asked. 2004, 2006, after the polls close on Election “It’s near...” 2008, and Night. “Sherry?” Bev Grey’s voice 2011 federal To register for the provincial sounded over the PA. elections, 2003 and 2007 provincial election program, visit: www.stu- “Yes?” elections and the 2010 municipal dentvote.ca or call 1-866-488-8775. and school board elections. In the Registration closes September 21. “Please come to the office.” last Ontario provincial election, CONTINUED ON PAGE 5 2100 Ontario schools registered to

 | Toronto Teacher | October 2011 Elementary Teachers of Toronto | T o r o n t o T e a c h e r | TORY TOP 10 by Bruce Stodart while the Metro level dealt with services that crossed municipal boundaries such as police, fire Funding have always been mystified by the popu- and ambulance service and water and sewers. Formula larity of the Communist Party in Russia. In To the Conservatives mind, bigger is better and I2003, they won 30% of the vote and even more efficient. There would be only one planning 6 with Putin’s United Russia Party vigorously stuff- If you wanted to find the average cost of edu- department, one library board, one road repair ing the ballot box in 2008, they still took close to department and you would need less people to run cating a child in Ontario, you add up all of the 20% of the vote. Who on Earth are these 20%? them. Moreover you would cut down on the num- money spent by individual school boards and Don’t they remember Stalin, the secret police, and ber of those pesky municipal politicians. divide it by the number of students in the prov- the shortages of everything from exploding televi- The problem is that a city is not a business. A ince. You could then multiply this number times sion sets to toilet paper? city provides services to its citizens. You still need the number of students a school board had and It could be the passage of time that lets you the same number of people filling potholes or sit- that would be the money you would give them to take a more nostalgic view of era. And that could ting behind the circulation desks at libraries. run their programs. be the case with the Tories. People might rational- An unofficial referendum was held on the idea. However the Tories had a problem. They ize the Mike Harris years by saying, “They cut The turnout was around 30% of eligible voters, didn’t want to maintain the amount of money taxes!” “They eliminated waste!” So for those of similar to a municipal election, and 75% of those they were spending on education. They wanted you who either lived through those times or those voting rejected amalgamation. Nonetheless amal- to reduce it so that they could cut taxes. The of you who were not in the profession, may I gamation was rammed through. richest school boards, the ones that spent the present the Tory Top Ten. But a curious thing occurred. Instead of going most per student were also the largest; Toronto, down, the cost of running the new City of Toronto Ottawa and Hamilton. How to diminish their went up. This was due in part to “bargaining up” impact? the wages it paid to its workers. If a trash collector What the Conservatives did was truly loopy. Selling the 407 in Toronto was making $25 an hour and his coun- Instead of determining the mean as the average, terpart in East York made $18 an hour, the East described in the paragraph above, they decided 10 York worker’s wages were increased to the Toronto to use the median. They ranked all of Ontario’s Truck traffic on the 401 was a real problem when worker’s level. It was also due to the monstrous 72 school boards and then picked number 36 as Bob Rae’s NDP government struck a deal with a size of the municipality and the inefficiencies in the average cost of educating a child in Ontario. private consortium to build the 407. The thought such a creature. Indeed many people point to amal- This just happened to be the Simcoe County was that the 407 would act as a bypass for the gamation as the root cause of the financial prob- Catholic Board of Education and the amount Toronto area and after 35 years the tolls on the lems the city faces today. spent on educating a Catholic child in Simcoe highway would have paid off its cost and the 407 County was the number used when determining would become a toll free 400 series highway. grants to Ontario school boards. However the Conservatives tax slashing Gutting the Of course it took no account of the real resulted in a sizable deficit and an inability to world. The Tories were paying $6.20 to maintain produce a balanced budget just before an upcom- School Boards government offices in the city but only allowed ing provincial election. Their solution? They sold 7 $4.80 to maintain Toronto schools. Initially off the 407 to a consortium led by SNC Lavalin Under school board amalgamation, the number of the poorer school board were thrilled with the for $2.1 billion. In return the group was given a trustees were cut drastically. The old City of North increased funding but as the funding was not 99 year lease and a free hand to set tolls. York used to have 14 trustees, under amalgama- increased and inflation took its toll, their enthusi- The result was endlessly upward spiral of toll tion it was reduced to four. However the number of asm evaporated. rates until the 407 became a “luxury” highway schools, students and parents trustees had to serve that truck traffic avoided because of its cost. In remained the same. Faced with an overwhelming Provincial Takeover October 2010 the Canadian Pension Plan paid workload, political oversight became problematic $984 million for a 10% stake. Granted there have and school board staff became de facto policy de- of Three Major been extensions to the 407, but this would suggest velopers in many instances. Moreover the trustees School Boards the current value of the 407 is close to $10 billion. salary was cut to $5 000 a year, a truly contempt- 5 The Tories get taken to the cleaners and we get ible amount given the increased workload. The funding formula did not work and in re- gouged for tolls or stuck in traffic behind semis At the same time, Bill 160 stripped school sponse the province actually sent out flacks to on the 401. boards of the ability to raise money through show school boards how to fudge their books to property taxes. In the past, Toronto had paid for its show a balanced budget. Then when the inevita- school system through its property tax base while ble deficit appeared the province would cover it. School Board contributing money to top up the budgets of less However Hamilton refused to go along with affluent boards through the sales and income tax its this fiasco and Toronto held forums on a “Need Amalgamation residents paid. Now all money for education went to Succeed” budget. In the end Ottawa joined 9 to the province. Hamilton and Toronto in refusing to pass “bal- Economies of scale work well if you are com- This gave the Conservatives all of the power, anced budgets. The Tories dissolved the school paring the time and cost of producing a can of through tax money, with none of the responsibil- boards and put supervisors in place to run them. tomatoes at a Leamington factory or canning the ity. School boards became a sort of firewall for This posed two problems. As the province hand picked tomatoes from your garden. However the Tories. If schools were poorly maintained, if was running these school boards, it could not at a certain point, size militates against efficiency. resources were in short supply it was not their hide behind the firewall the boards had previ- Amalgamating large school boards results in the fault, after all, they gave the trustees lots of money. ously supplied. Second the supervisors found it Algoma District School Board, a geographic beast impossible to balance the books themselves and that takes eight hours to drive across. Or you end The problem was those wastrels on the local school board. either received extra grants or in Toronto’s case up with the TDSB, a structure so unwieldy that ran a deficit. it had to be broken down into four quadrants to make it administratively manageable. Yes, size Ontario College does matter but not in the ways the Conservatives think 4of Teachers Municipal Those of you who are relatively new to the system are no doubt puzzled as to why the Amalgamation College of Teachers makes the list, after all 8 lawyers, doctors and accountants all have Prior to amalgamation Toronto had two levels professional associations. However these of government. The six local municipalities associations were formed by the profes- looked after such local concerns as garbage sionals themselves, from the bottom up. pick up, side streets parks and local libraries CONTINUED ON PAGE 4

Elementary Teachers of Toronto Elementary Teachers of Toronto Toronto Teacher | October 2011 |  || TT o o r o n t o T T e e a a c c h e rr || MAKE THE CONNECTION ELECTION VIDEO SERIES

We’re two elementary teachers from Toronto who feel Teachers know what’s best for their students strongly about the need to protect and enhance public education. A GOVERNMENT THAT PUTS EDUCATION FIRST These videos are our contribution to ETFO’s effort to encourage and inspire teachers to get involved in the up- coming Ontario provincial election, and vote in an education-friendly government. Please share them widely.

We are grateful for the support of the Political Action Committee of the Elementary Teachers of Toronto.

Carrie Schoemer Kevin Couch

www.ett.ca/media-centre/whats-new/provincial-elections-2011 www.youtube.com/user/connectingthedots1?feature=mhee

TORY TOP 10 CONTINUED FROM PAGE 3 The OCT was imposed on teachers by the province. Moreover the major- ity of the people on the OCT board were not teachers but lay people who saw their role as keeping an eye on those incompetent and greedy teach- ers. On paper, the College was an inde- pendent agency, free from political interference. However the Conserva- tives announced that all incoming teachers would have to pass a written entrance test. The College’s own research found that these tests are un- able to “distinguish between candi- dates that are minimally competent to teach and those who are not.” (OCT, 2000) Originally experienced teach- ers were to be herded into hockey arenas to write a test every three years. The OCT talked the province out of this but acquiesced to compul- sory professional development in the U. of T., he began his response with, compulsory nature of the program form of a Professional Learning Plan markers” and raised the criteria for “Dear Mr. Stodart: I will not waste that really animated people. We take (PLP). It is hard to imagine the OMA an “A” so high that it was virtually your time and mine with expressions professional development when we allowing this sort of political inter- impossible for a child to attain it. As of indignation.” see an need to increase our knowledge ference in its workings and teachers a child’s A’s became B’s and their In the words of our Science con- or to pursue an area of interest. Under were outraged. There were demon- B’s became C’s, parents demanded sultant at the time, Sydney MacKay, PLP a teacher with a Masters in Child strations outside the OCT offices and and received a remedy to this situa- it was a case of “implementation Development could be forced to sit mass “Return to Sender” of Profes- tion. However a problem remained by courier”. A week after classes through a five hour Power Point pre- sionally Speaking to their mailroom. with the comments. Teacher com- started, the courier dropped off the sentation on the topic. Rather than ac- As Larry Glassford remarked in ments were limited to a restatement expectations we were supposed to quiring skills to meet the needs of the an understatement, “It was not the of an expectation and a modifier. The meet that year. As a result ,already children in or classrooms, we would OCT’s finest hour.” Yes, the College result was staggeringly ugly Eng- overworked teachers had to write be forced to flit from topic to topic of Teachers behaved in a craven man- lish and perplexed parents trying to real curricula on the fly and without to meet some predetermined profes- ner by buckling to political pressure. determine what exactly “consistently proper resources. The fact that the sional diet. In practice we would be But it was the Conservatives who travels in a variety of ways using entire educational system did not on permanent probation. We would leaned on them. different pathways”, meant. come crashing down around our be seen as incompetent until proved heads was due solely to the diligence otherwise. Ontario and sense of professional responsi- Personal bility of Ontario’s teachers. • • • Curriculum Learning Plan The provincial election approaches 3 and it could happen anywhere at any A proper curriculum includes objec- Provincial 1As research showed what a ri- time: at a family barbecue, in a restau- tives and expectations, the resources diculous idea written tests were for rant, maybe even in your staffroom. needed, teaching points and sug- Report Card determining teacher competency, But it is likely at one point or another gested lesson plans, timelines, and 2 the Conservatives came up with the someone will say to you, “You know, enrichment activities. The Conserva- Parents had long complained about Professional Learning Plan (PLP). the Conservatives were not all that tives one fifth of it right, they gave us how vague previous report cards All teachers would be required to bad when they were in power.” Pause, the expectations. Some of the expec- were with their references to “be- take 14 courses in five subject areas and think back to the lunatic policies tations were plausible, some took no ginning to”, “approaching”, “meet- over five years. driven by the ignorant ideology that account of child development and ing” and “exceeding” expectations The implicit insult, that teachers produced the Tory Top Ten. Then as- some were downright silly. When I instead of the simple A, B, C, D, and would not take courses to hone their sure the person that, yes in fact, they sent the Grade 4 Medieval Times cur- E of their youth. However the gov- skills unless they were forced to do really were that bad. riculum to a History professor at the ernment wanted to be seen as “tough so made us indignant. But it was the

 | Toronto Teacher | October 2011 Elementary Teachers of Toronto | T o r o n t o T e a c h e r | THE FUTURE OF EDUCATION DEPENDS ON YOUR VOTE ON OCTOBER 6

Summer has come and gone. We n Mandated teacher policy for students to provide are all in the midst of the start PROGRESSIVE recertification more support for suspended and expelled students and to repeal of the school year with all the CONSERVATIVE n Mandated teacher qualifying teachers’ authority to suspend hustle and bustle it entails. This GOVERNMENT test for faculty of education Fall is marked by another event 1995 - 2003 graduates n Amended funding formula and increased funding to support new that demands our attention; the n Introduced tax credits for provincial election on October 6. programs n Repealed the positive labour private school tuition ETFO has put together a chart n Provided significant funds to reforms introduced by the NDP n comparing the three main political Introduced provincial model for teacher federations to support government and made other teacher performance appraisal parties and what they did when negative changes to labour law professional development n Prescribed teachers’ duties they formed the government of n n Failed to reach successful Repealed the NDP through regulation to undermine Ontario. Please take the time to employment equity legislation agreement during fall 2008 read this and cast an informed vote. teachers’ work-to-rule strategies Provincial Discussion Table n Also, find time to do some work for Established the EQAO and process related to collective standardized testing regime a candidate in your riding. This LIBERAL bargaining. ETFO members were penalized with a 2% loss in salary election is important for the future n Established the Ontario GOVERNMENT of our students and our profession. College of Teachers n Launched School Information 2003 - 2011 Finder website that compares n Repealed mandatory JK and schools based on EQAO results. cut funding for the program NEW DEMOCRATIC n Repealed private school tuition n Released resource document n Implemented major school PARTY GOVERNMENT tax credit to support equity and inclusive board amalgamation 1990 - 1995 n Introduced primary class size education policy n Introduced negative changes cap n Shelved sexual education and to workers’ compensation system n Extended pregnancy and n Cancelled teacher gender identity sections of new parental leave n Through Bill 160, implemented recertification elementary Phys Ed and Health major negative changes for the curriculum n Introduced teacher pension education sector and teacher n Mandated two- or four-year n Introduced safe school reform federations teacher collective agreements measures n Appointed assistant deputy n Introduced new funding n Introduced changes to some n Introduced full-day kindergarten minister for anti-racism and formula that narrowed definition aspects of PC negative labour program staffed with both a employment equity of “classroom expenditure” reforms including employer’s right to post information re teacher and ECE throughout the n Introduced major labour and reduced funding by decertification instructional day reforms to support workers and approximately $2 billion n Clarified role of school boards unions, making certification n Introduced provincial n Cancelled the Ontario Teacher and trustees and mandated multi- easier and banning strike standardized report card for Qualifying Test breakers year student achievement plans elementary students n Introduced the New Teacher n n Introduced new fall progress Appointed the Royal n Introduced changes to make Induction Program and report for elementary students, Commission on Learning unionization more difficult performance appraisal process of long sought after by ETFO, that n new teachers Expanded pay equity n Introduced new elementary was plagued by implementation entitlement curriculum without the necessary n Reformed the Ontario College problems of Teachers by giving classroom n Invoked a 3-year salary cut resources or teacher in-service teachers majority representation n Weakened policy related through unpaid days as part of n Introduced strict discipline on the governing council to provision of extended day the Social Contract legislation policy for students programs linked to full-day n Restored two of the five n Mandated school boards to kindergarten n Threatened to mandate PA Days cancelled by the provide junior kindergarten extracurricular activities at the Conservative government n Mandated employment equity elementary level (mandated them at the secondary level) n Amended the strict discipline

A NEW BEGINNING Bev had even been supportive of Of course he would have to remem- documents. A more proactive ap- that idea. ber to bring it back to school every proach could head off these problems. CONTINUED FROM PAGE 2 Sherry took a deep breadth and day.” Ask Mary Beth for a copy of her par- Mr Gable touched Sherry’s elbow. walked into the office to find Mrs “All right.” Mrs Morris nodded. ent newsletter.” “I’ll see you,” he said and started Morris perched on the edge of the “Lets do that.” She sighed and rose. “Okay,” Sherry stepped out of down the hall. sofa. She shook Bev’s hand and nodded at Bev’s office. Sherry waved and turned to walk “Come in, Ms Smythe,” Bev Sherry. “And Sherry?” in the opposite direction toward the smiled at her. “I was just showing Sherry watched her leave then “Yes?” office. Certainly, she thought, Bev Mrs Morris the curriculum docu- turned to Bev. “Thank you for sup- “Throwball again or craft club this couldn’t tell her to stop teaching ment and the Student Vote website. porting me.” year?” the Government unit. It was in the I’ve explained the non-partisan “Of course I’d support you. That’s Sherry nodded again, “Throwball.” grade five curriculum. In any case, approach and how you well you my job.” She said and walked back to her this wasn’t likely to end well, none bring issues to their level of under- Sherry nodded slowly. She turned classroom. Pretty much status quo, of her meetings with her principal standing. Would you like to add to leave. she thought. did. Sherry wondered if the VP was anything?” “Sherry?” Bev called. still in the school. Laura was more “Only that Avery could bring his “Yes?” Read more Sherry stories: supportive and she had suggested duo tang home every night so that “You might consider a newsletter http://thesherrystories.blogspot.com/ the Student Vote program, which had you could discuss things with him for the parents, describing what you been so helpful in planning this unit. and see what we have been doing. are doing and citing the curriculum

Elementary Teachers of Toronto Elementary Teachers of Toronto Toronto Teacher | October 2011 |  | T o r o n t o T e a c h e r | Track Records of Three Governments NDP, Progressive Conservative, and Liberal - 1990-2011

NEW DEMOCRATIC GOVERNMENT - 1990-1995 INITIATIVE DATE DETAILS

Extended pregnancy and parental December 19, Bill 14, the Employment Standards Amendment Act (Pregnancy and Parental Leave), 1990, which leave 1990. extended pregnancy and parental leave provisions, passed. In addition to the existing 17 weeks of pregnancy leave, the bill provided 18 weeks of unpaid leave for one parent and an additional 18 weeks unpaid leave for the second parent. (Federal legislation had increased unemployment insurance benefits by an additional 10 weeks.)

The bill required employee’s seniority and pension benefits to continue to accrue and life insurance and extended care benefits continue during the leave. Eligibility requirements were reduced.

Introduced teacher pension reform December 19, Bill 140, the Teachers’ Pension Amendment Act, 1991, which provided the framework for the new 1991 partnership between OTF and the government, passed.

Appointed assistant deputy minister June 8, 1992 A new ADM position was established in the Ministry to increase support for the government’s focus of education for anti-racism and on antiracism and employment equity. employment equity

Introduced major labour Reforms November 5, Bill 40, the Labour Relations and Employment Statute Law Amendment Act, 1992¸passed. It 1992 introduced significant labour reforms including extension of bargaining rights to a number of employees, mandatory just cause protection, reduced barriers to unionization, first contract arbitration, banned use of replacement workers, and expanded powers of arbitrators.

Appointed Royal Commission on May 1993 The government appointed Royal Commission on Learning headed up by Monique Bégin and Learning Gerald Caplan to make recommendations on education reform. The report led to a number of initiatives implemented ultimately by the Harris government including establishing the Ontario College of Teachers and the Education Quality and Accountability Office to oversee the introduction of province-wide student assessment.

Expanded pay equity entitlement June 30, 1993 Bill 102, the Pay Equity Amendment Act¸1992, which extended the benefits of pay equity legislation by adding the proportional value and proxy methods to determine pay equity, passed. The legislation was aimed at extending the benefits of pay equity to employees in workplaces without a male comparator.

Invoked a 3-year salary cut through July 7, 1993 Bill 48, the Social Contract Act, 1993, was passed. The legislation aimed to save $2 billion in unpaid days as part of the Social provincial expenditure through a three-year freeze in public sector salaries, through unpaid days. Contract legislation The freeze applied to increments on teacher salary grids.

Mandated provision of July 29, 1993 Bill 4, Education Amendment Act, 1993, which required school boards to phase in half-day junior junior kindergarten kindergarten over a three-year period beginning in 1994, passed.

Mandated employment equity December 9, Bill 179, the Employment Equity Act, 1993, which required employers, including school boards, to 1993 negotiate employment equity plans with their respective employee organizations, passed.

PROGRESSIVE CONSERVATIVE GOVERNMENT - 1995-2003 INITIATIVE DATE DETAILS

Repealed NDP labour reforms October 31, Bill 7, the Labour Relations and Employment Statute Law Amendment Act, 1995, which repealed 1995 the positive labour reforms introduced by the NDP government and made other regressive changes, passed.

Repealed NDP employment equity December 13, Bill 8, the Job Quotas Repeal Act, 1995, which repealed the NDP employment equity legislation legislation 1995 and provisions in the Human Rights Code, the Police Services Act, and the Education Act that related to employment equity and affirmative action, passed.

Established EQAO and province- June 12, 1996 Bill 30, the Education Quality and Accountability OfficeAct, 1996 passed. The EQAO was wide testing regime established to oversee province-wide testing in grades 3, 6, 9, and 10.

Established the Ontario College of June 17, 1996 Bill 31, the Ontario College of Teachers Act, 1996, which assigned the college responsibility Teachers for governing the teaching profession, investigating complaints against teachers, enforcing professional and ethical standards, and accrediting teacher education programs, passed.

Repealed mandatory JK June 19, 1996 Bill 34, the Education Amendment Act, 1996, which repealed the provision that required school boards to offer junior kindergarten, passed. The government cut JK funding by 50%.

Implemented major school board April 23, 1997 Bill 104, the Fewer School Boards Act, 1997, which reduced the number of school boards, capped amalgamation the number of trustees to be elected to each board, and capped trustee salaries, passed.

Introduced negative changes to October 9, Bill 99, the Workers’ Compensation Reform Act, 1997, which reduced the level of benefits paid to workers’ compensation system 1997 injured workers by 5%, removed one level of appeal, and made it more difficult to claim eligibility for some injuries, passed.

Implemented major negative December 1, Bill 160, the Education Quality Improvement Act, 1997, which removed the ability of teachers to education changes 1997 negotiate class size, abolished ability of school boards to raise taxes, removed principals and vice-principals from teacher federations, eliminated 4 of 9 PA Days, and disqualified school board employees and their spouses from being eligible to be elected as school trustees, passed.

Introduced new funding formula and 1998 The new Student Focused Funding Formula cut a further $672 million from elementary and cut spending secondary education and narrowly defined the curriculum. The formula led to a loss of teachers, educational assistants, and professional support personnel. It also resulted in cuts to programs such as music, physical education, guidance, library, and special education.

 | Toronto Teacher | October 2011 Elementary Teachers of Toronto | T o r o n t o T e a c h e r | PROGRESSIVE CONSERVATIVE GOVERNMENT (con’t) INITIATIVE DATE DETAILS Introduced a standardized provincial 1997-98 The standardized provincial report card was introduced in 1997-98 and fully implemented during the report card 1998-99 school year. The report card format significantly increased teacher workload because of the requirement to report on the plethora of specific curriculum expectations.

Introduced changes to make Bill 31, the Economic Development and Workplace Democracy Act, 1998, which required unions to unionization more difficult use votes rather than card-signing as a means to organize new bargaining units.

Introduced new elementary 1998-99 The government announced in June 1998 that elementary teachers would be responsible for curriculum implementing a new curriculum beginning in September 1998. The initiative proceeded without the necessary curriculum resource material or in-service.

Introduced strict discipline policy for June 14, 2000 The Safe School Act, 2000, which established a student Code of Conduct, required the singing students and assigned authority for of the national anthem, gave parents the authority to opt for a dress code or school uniform, suspensions to teachers introduced strict policy regarding student suspensions and expulsions, and gave teachers the authority to suspend students, passed.

Threatened to mandate June 20, 2000 Bill 74, the Education Accountability Act, which mandated teachers to provide extra-curricular extracurricular activities activities at the secondary level, passed. The bill included a similar provision affecting elementary teachers which was never proclaimed.

Introduced “teacher testing” June 28, 2001 Bill 80, the Stability and Excellence in Education Act, 2001, which mandated teachers to participate in a recertification program involving completing 14 courses every five years to maintain their teaching certificate, passed.

Introduced tax credits for private June 27, 2001 Bill 45, the Responsible Choices for Growth and Accountability Act (2001 Budget) 2001, which school tuition established education tuition tax credits for private schools, passed. A regulation filed under the act created a tax credit which applied to the first $7,000 of tuition fees per child enrolled in a private school. The plan was for the tax credit to increase by 10% annually until it reached 50% of tuition worth up to $3,500 per child. The tax credit was estimated to cost over $300 million in lost tax revenue.

Introduced provincial model for December 12, Bill 110, the Quality in the Classroom Act, 2001, which implemented a provincial model for teacher teacher performance appraisal 2001 performance appraisal, required teachers to complete an Annual Learning Plan, and established a and teacher qualifying test teacher qualifying test for faculty of education graduates, passed.

Prescribed teacher “duties” to May 2003 In response to work-to-rule sanctions invoked by teachers, the government filed a regulation that undermine work-to-rule campaigns clarified that teachers’ duties included ensuring comments are included on report cards, cooperating with the administration of EQAO tests, meeting with parents, and performing duties associated with student graduation ceremonies.

LIBERAL GOVERNMENT - 2003-2011 INITIATIVE DATE DETAILS

Repealed tax credit for private December 17, Bill 2, the Fiscal Responsibility Act, 2003, which repealed the private school tuition tax credit school tuition 2003 retroactively to the 2003 tax year, passed.

Introduced primary class size cap September The government began its phase-in of the primary class size cap of 20 students. In Year 1 of the 2004 phase-in, the cap was applied to 70% of primary classes. The government set a target of all boards meeting the target of 20 or fewer students in 90% of primary classes by 2007-08. The remaining 10% of classes were allowed to have up to 23 students.

Cancelled teacher recertification December 15, Bill 82, the Professional Learning Program Cancellation Act, 2004¸which repealed the mandatory 2004 teacher recertification program administered by the Ontario College of Teachers, passed.

Mandated two- or four-year term March 5, 2005 Bill 167, the Education Amendment Act, 2005, which mandated the terms of teacher collective teacher collective agreements agreements to be either two or four years, passed.

Introduced changes to some June 13, 2005 Bill 144, the Labour Relations Statute Law Amendment Act, 2005, restored card-based certification aspects of PC negative labour for the construction sector, cancelled employers’ rights to post de-certification information in the reforms including employer’s right to workplace, and repealed the requirement of unions to disclose salary information for officers and post information re decertification employees earning over $100,000 annually.

Cancelled the Ontario Teacher December Education Minister cancelled the Ontario Teacher Qualifying Test (OTQT) for faculty of education Qualifying Test 2004 graduates scheduled for 2005.

June 1, 2006 Bill 78, Education Statute Law Amendment Act (Student Performance), 2006, which formally cancelled the OTQT, passed.

Introduced the New Teacher June 1, 2006 See Bill 78 introduced a teacher induction program and a specific performance appraisal process Induction Program and performance for new teachers. appraisal model for new teachers

Reformed the Ontario College of June 1, 2006 Bill 78 increased the number of members of the Ontario College of Teachers who represent Teachers classroom teachers from 13 to 19 thereby giving this group majority representation on the governing council.

Restored two of five PA Days cut by June 1, 2006 Bill 78 restored two of the five PA Days cancelled by the previous Conservative government. Conservative government

Amended strict discipline policy for June 4, 2007 Bill 212, the Education Amendment Act (Progressive Discipline and School Safety Act, 2007, which students required school boards to offer alternative programs for expelled students, added bullying to the list of behaviours that can lead to student suspension, and removed teachers’ authority to suspend students, passed.

Elementary Teachers of Toronto Elementary Teachers of Toronto Toronto Teacher | October 2011 |  | T o rr oo nn tt oo T T e e a c h e rr || LIBERAL GOVERNMENT (con’t) INITIATIVE DATE DETAILS

Amended funding formula and The Liberal government made significant changes to the education funding formula although some increased funding structural problems remain. It increased funding in a time of declining enrolment with much of the increased funding going to support new programs such as the class size cap and full-day kindergarten.

Allocated funds for federation PD Since 2006-07, the government has allocated significant PD funding to the teacher federations, including ETFO.

Failed to reach Provincial December The deadline imposed by the Minister of Education for reaching a Provincial Discussion Table Discussion Table (PDT) agreement 2008 agreement for the next round of bargaining expired without a successful agreement. ETFO with ETFO members were penalized by receiving salary increases 2% less than other teachers imposed on them as a result of the failed process.

zzzLaunched School Information April 4, 2009 The Ministry of Education launched the School Information Finder on its website that encourages Finder school comparisons based on their EQAO scores and demographic profile.

The School Information Finder was universally opposed by the government’s broadly-based Partnership Table of education stakeholders.

Released resource document to April 6, 2009 The Ministry of Education released Ontario’s Equity and Inclusive Education Strategy and support equity and inclusive announced that new courses in gender studies and equity would be available in schools in schools policy September 2011.

Shelved sections of new Phys ed April 22, 2009 In response to an outcry led by a fundamentalist religious leader, Premier McGuinty abruptly and Health curriculum that address announced that the government would pull sections of the revised elementary Physical Education sexual development and gender and Health curriculum that addresses sexual development and gender identity and subject them to identity further consultation.

Introduced safe school measures June 1, 2009 Bill 157, the Education Amendment Act (Keeping Our Kids Safe At School), 2009, which requires school staff to report serious student incidents to the principal, passed. The lack of sufficient in- service training remains an issue.

Introduced full-day kindergarten October 27, Premier McGuinty announced that full-day kindergarten would be phased in across the province 2009 over a five-year period. The plan reflected ETFO’s position that a teacher should be assigned throughout the school day to work alongside an early childhood educator.

April 27, 2010 Bill 242, the Full-Day Learning Statute Amendment Act, 2010, which established the framework for the new full-day kindergarten program, passed.

Clarified role of school boards and November 30, Bill 177, the Student Achievement and School Board Governance Act, 2009¸which clarified the role trustees and mandated multiyear 2009 of school boards and trustees, established a code of conduct for trustees including barring them student achievement plans from publicly criticizing board policy, and mandated multi-year student achievement plans, passed.

Addressed workplace violence and December 9, Bill 168, the Occupational Health and Safety Amendment Act (Violence and Harassment in the harassment 2009 Workplace), 2009, which requires employers to develop a workplace harassment policy and maintain a program to support the policy, passed.

Sought compensation freeze in March 25, The 2010 Provincial Budget announced that the government would respect existing collective public sector 2010 agreements and wouldn’t impose unpaid days for public sector workers, but would be working with its public sector partners to implement a two-year compensation freeze upon the expiry of existing collective agreements.

In the fall of 2010, the Ministry of Finance held unsuccessful discussions with ETFO and other public sector unions aimed at agreements related to the compensation freeze.

Implemented fall progress report for Fall 2010 In response to a strong lobbying effort on the part of ETFO, the government replaced the fall report elementary students card with a new progress report designed to maintain effective communication with parents but reduce teacher workload. The new initiative suffered from poor implementation and failure by some school boards to respect the new Growing Success policy.

Weakened policy governing Spring 2011 Bill XX cancels the requirement for school boards to provide extended day programs for students extended day programs related to enrolled in full-day kindergarten programs. The policy undermines the vision of a fully integrated full-day kindergarten Early Learning program and creates two classes of ECEs working with the same kindergarten students – those unionized and those not.

Provincial Election Checklist for ETFO Members

’ Make’ sure that you are on the Voters Agree’ to take an election sign. Attend’ all-candidates’ meetings and ask List. If the list is not available, contact your questions on education issues. District Returning Officer to confirm that your Be’ as informed as possible about name is included. Information about what election issues, especially those related Discuss’ education issues with your documentation you require to be added to to education. Ask your local president for neighbours and friends. the list is available on the Elections Ontario the election fact sheets and questions for website: www.electionsontario.on.ca candidates prepared by ETFO provincial Encourage’ colleagues, friends and and local offices. Or check the ETFO neighbours to vote in the provincial election. ’ Call’ your local president to determine website for these materials: www.etfo.ca how you can make a difference in the Help’ get the vote out for your candidate provincial election. When’ candidates or their representatives on Election Day. canvass for your vote, be direct about the ’ Work’ for the candidate of your choice. issues that are a priority to you. This is Vote’ at an advance poll or on Election Day. an important way to give a high profile to ’ Make’ a financial contribution to your issues; candidates pay attention to what is preferred candidate(s). said at the door.

 | Toronto Teacher | October 2011 Elementary Teachers of Toronto | T o r o n t o T e a c h e r | The Streeter Our members speak

Q: What do you see as the most important issues in the Provincial Election?

I’m really a party politics guy. The progressive taxation is not a bad is going on—TTC being designated level, namely an electorate sucked in issues that concern me are around thing. I’d like to hear more about an ‘essential service’. . . by the rhetoric of Ford/Hudak. The ‘education. So few of our parents vote it, especially from the NDP. We are ’ language of gravy trains and prof- because they’ve come so recently. living in this culture of intense pres- Education and health care are ligate spending has a populist reso- Many of them don’t have citizenship sure for tax cuts and tax cuts and tax priorities and I want to see invest- nance that was alarmingly apparent papers yet so it’s really hard for them cuts and the idea that any kind of tax ‘ment in them instead of cuts. I think with the election of Rob Ford. to become part of the process. increase of any shape is a horrible, we also have to think about things Ford made the same promises I think about my kids and what horrible thing. that will build our economy, mov- that Hudak is making now, that core would be best for their families. So The fact is tax dollars pay for ing forward. We’ve seen what’s services will not be affected and that its not just education, it’s immigra- good public services and I think we happened around the world, a lot of somehow hundreds of millions of tion policy that a lot of the candi- should be recognizing and celebrat- failing economies. As the Premier dollars can be saved through ‘efficien- dates support because it affects so ing that fact and not hiding from it. said (I don’t know if he really means cies’ or ‘waste management.’ many of the families at my school. The picture of TEA Partyers hold- it) investing in health care and espe- The reality now, of course, is that ’ ing up ‘No Tax’ signs while they are cially education, will safeguard our Ford lied to the people of Toronto, It’s education issues, the ones on a street paid for by taxes and all economy down the road. Those two and is embarking on a series of cuts, that are important to teachers. I’m of the other things like street lights are definitely priorities. privatization and attacks on collective ‘worried about regressing... of going and sidewalks, things that are paid ’ bargaining that hurt the most vulner- back to what it was like in the Harris for with our taxes is quite telling. Obviously education and health able in our city. years. That was brutal. It wasn’t fun Until we can get past a society care, those are the two closest to my Many of those who voted for Ford for the students, it wasn’t fun for the that is allergic to taxes, we are going ‘heart. We’re teachers and my father are now realising that they were parents. to continue to fight these battles and is a nurse. I really think privatization deceived. I fear that these people will The one thing you could say about not very successfully. is going to be huge, a going concern make the same mistake in the coming Harris was that he could galvanize ’ on both sides, education and health Provincial Election. people, get us together, help us I’m concerned that the Tories will care. Hudak has a $14 billion hole in his decide the things that were worth ‘get in, definitely, and none of the We are seeing two tiered health election platform that has received fighting for. I think we need to fight issues we are fighting for like getting care encroach. We are also seeing the only fleeting coverage by the media. for the kids, fight for the classroom. rid of EQAO, class sizes, or collec- austerity measures, it’s very discon- People should be very concerned ’ tive bargaining will be addressed. certing. We are seeing that influence, about this. It is naive to think that We need to look at the big, big I’m a little torn because my local we are seeing that in the United Hudak will preserve the same spend- ‘picture for our communities and our MPP is Kathleen Wynne and I do States. ing priorities as the current Liberal education system. If the Tories are support her. She is a great politician We are seeing a real conservative government, cut taxes, and not have elected, it means there will be three and I will have a sign for her because wave that is happening federally and to make drastic cuts to core services levels of right-wing, fiscally-focused I want to support someone other than municipally. We could end up with like healthcare and education. government. Which means there the PCs. However, that said, I also a full slate of conservatives from Teachers should be alarmed by the will be cutbacks. That will allow the think while she was politically smart every level of government that will rhetoric coming out of the Tory party. hysterical voices of cuts to have a during our last round of negotiations, promote those austerity measures. Pay freezes, essential service designa- stage to work on and that is terrifying she ended up costing us 2%. They actually force us into a worse tion, merit pay are only a few of the for us all. ’ economic position than the one we ‘efficiency’ ideas that could material- ’ Talking from a teacher perspec- are in. ize if Hudak gets into power. I’m not hearing any of the parties ‘tive, the track record of the Tory ’ The false promises and record of ‘including the NDP—the Tories I’m party does not bode too well for Tax cuts and facile thinking that Rob Ford should serve as a cautionary not surprised about—talking that teachers. Given everything else that ‘you can cut government to save tale to voters. The urgency of the situ- money doesn’t actually help people ation means that on October 6, voters because people need government. need to cast a ballot with their heads, What government delivers is public and vote tactically in their ridings to value for our money. It delivers those ensure that these right-wing nutters services we all depend on. They are kept out of government. can’t be delivered in another way ’ that is accessible to every person. I think what a lot of these Con- servatives are about is anti-govern- ment policies and what they want Your vote is is to dismantle the government and turn back time and leave us without important a social network of any sort, any social services for people, those that serve the common good like schools, hospitals, libraries, transit. These are things that are very important. There is this facile thinking that if we just keep cutting and cutting somehow this will create stimulus. We can’t have this race to the bottom mentality.’ My concerns are that we see a repeat at the provincial level of what ‘we saw last year at the municipal

Elementary Teachers of Toronto Elementary Teachers of Toronto Toronto Teacher | October 2011 |  | TT o r o nn tt oo T T e a c hh ee rr | EDITORIAL Why I Am Not A Taxpayer

expected him to stop the celing night bus service; “I gravy train at City Hall, I didn’t • having only one police officer per expect him to close libraries!” No patrol car in high risk neighbour- doubt this cry went up from thou- hoods. sands, if not tens of thousands of households once Mayor Rob Ford Even if all the proposal are ad- introduced the KPMG audit of the opted, the money saved would not City’s finances. be enough to balance the budget. Facing a deficit of $774 million, Now if you are a taxpayer, you an amount that was supposed to be would likely approve of these cleared up by eliminating waste such proposals. Why should you have to as catered meals at late night council reach into your pocket, through your meetings and personnel who water taxes, to pay for dental care, nutri- the City Hall’s plants, the report from tion programs, daycare subsidies and KPMG recommended, amongst oth- affordable housing for children in ers, the following. need when your own kids are doing • Eliminating emergency dental all right? care for those in need, including Why should you worry whether children; a night cleaner in an office building • canceling 2000 child care subsidies; can get home by TTC? • cutting supports for affordable You can download all the books movement that exists in the States. and for tax relief by voting for the On- housing; you want on your iPad so why do we In the U.S. a large segment of the tario PC Party and our changebook.” • shutting down library branches and need libraries at all? population regards taxes as not just But as the saying goes, “Been there, reducing hours; And so what if a police officer is a burden but an absolute evil. It is as done that.” • selling the Toronto Zoo and the balancing her revolver on the roof if you can measure the moral tem- Mike Harris’ Common Sense CNE; of the patrol car without a partner perature of a jurisdiction by the taxes Revolution was premised on the belief • scrapping grants for student nutri- to back her up, she knew it was a it imposes. Nonetheless, during the that we were over taxed and that there tion programs for low income dangerous job when she applied to last municipal election, Rob Ford ran were simple solutions to lower the children; be a cop. on the slogans of, ‘Stop the Gravy provincial tax rate. This was accom- • canceling 42 AIDS prevention Mercifully, Canada does not Train’ and ‘Respect for Taxpay- plished by slashing welfare payments, programs; have anything approaching the ers.’ The implications were that our laying off nurses and closing hospi- • rolling back TTC service and can- TEA (Taxed Enough Already) Party tax money is being wasted by city tals, cutting money to schools through hall and that we are taxpayers who a deeply flawed funding formula, and should be outraged. downloading provincial responsibili- However, as the KPMG report ties to the municipalities. Taxes were highlighted, if we are to balance the cut 21%, however the period the Con- Save city services city budget without raising taxes, servatives were in power were boom the ‘gravy’ consists of such essential times for the province. When the Defend good jobs services as policing, libraries, day- Tories were defeated, they left behind care and the TTC. But perhaps more a $5 billion deficit. importantly is the false assertion that At the classroom level, the Com- Rally for TORONTO! I am a taxpayer. I am not a taxpayer. Community Day of Action mon Sense Revolution translated into I am a citizen, with rights, yes, but increased class sizes, deferred main- Residents from across the city are rallying for Toronto. also obligations to contribute to the tenance of school buildings, fewer Our message to City Hall is: common good. And these include caretakers and hence dirtier schools Build Toronto, don’t destroy it. paying taxes. and less money for school supplies. Together, we can stop cuts, closures, privatization As the provincial campaign kicks Although all teachers dip into their into high gear, the tenor of the Con- and user fees that will have an impact on pockets to buy things for their class- servatives’ campaign becomes clear. rooms, the cut to school budgets every neighbourhood in Toronto. Dalton McGuinty is ‘The Tax Man.’ meant they had to do so for what had Rally Outside the City Council Meeting If you go to their website, at the top previously been considered essential Monday Sept 26, 5:30 PM, City Hall of their list of issues is ‘tax relief.’ materials. School fund raising became According to them “You can vote for an ongoing activity with the wealthier Email [email protected] to connect with local initiatives in your more unannounced and undesired tax schools able to cover, in part, the short area. Join us on Facebook: www.facebook.com/RespectToronto. hikes,” or “you can vote for change, fall in their funding while less affluent schools had to go without. People cast their vote based on a constellation of policy proposals. You The opinions and views expressed in DAVID BANERJEE Toronto Teacher is the membership might like one party’s position on MONTROSE PUBLIC SCHOOL newspaper. It is a free press, and any Toronto Teacher health care, another’s on education, are those of the writers, or those interviewed, teacher in the Toronto District School Board ROB HENDERSON and are not necessarily those of the Editorial may write for Toronto Teacher. and yes, even another’s on taxes. The DUKE OF CONNAUGHT PUBLIC Board, or the Elementary Teachers of Every teacher’s opinion is important, SCHOOL and we encourage your input. decision to support a particular party Toronto. can be a complex one, a matter of jug- DEL MILBRANDT We invite your contributions. It’s your paper. Write for it! EDITOR EMERITUS gling issues and priorities. Please send ideas/submissions, letters, Have a lesson plan, educational articles, photos, graphics, cartoons, etc. to commentary, book review, humour, However to vote solely on the basis ELLEN PETERS any of the Editorial Board of taxes is to do yourself a disservice. WESTWAY JUNIOR SCHOOL or a great idea you’d like to members listed here. contribute to the Toronto Teacher? It is to vote as a taxpayer and not as a BRUCE STODART Send your contributions DESIGN / ROSE DI ZIO citizen. BAYCREST PUBLIC SCHOOL for our next issue to PRODUCTION / CENTURY GRAPHICS, TORONTO

Toronto Teacher Toronto [email protected]

10 | Toronto Teacher | October 2011 Elementary Teachers of Toronto || T o r o n t o T e a a c c h h e e r r || EDUCATION UPDATE

Migrant schools closed male muppet, who drives a station- this year alone. The show will be Based in part on what appeared to in Chinese capital ary yellow taxi. aired in English, and some distinc- be Atlanta’s strong results on stan- The likeable is five years tive characters and segments from dardized tests, Superintendent Beverly Thousands of migrant workers’ chil- old, and HIV-positive, in a role the original , such as Hall has been hailed as a model for dren in Beijing have been left with that is expected to help eliminate and , , , and urban superintendents. Under Hall, no school to attend after officials the stigma associated with the Aids , will be featured speaking the district investigated the allegations abruptly closed their schools. virus. with Nigerian accents. and said there was no evidence of State media said some 14,000 chil- Yemisi Ilo, the executive pro- cheating. dren in three districts of the Chinese ducer of the series, notes that having British library users Then-Gov. Sonny Perdue called the capital had been hit. a character like Kami will “help ‘become better readers’ district’s own investigation “woefully Officials said the schools had not educate children in a fun and light- inadequate” and appointed an inde- met safety standards or were unap- hearted way.” Children who use their local public pendent investigator. About a month proved. “Our reality here in Nigeria is that library are twice as likely to be above before she stepped down, Hall ac- The move has sparked concern there are hundreds of thousands of average readers, a report has said. knowledged in a videotaped farewell over discrimination against the Aids orphans,” she adds. “We want A survey of 17,000 children in that the results of the report would be children of migrant workers, who are all children, including those with Great Britain for the National Liter- “alarming.” not allowed to attend state-funded HIV, to be able to relate with the acy Trust found they were also twice Six principals refused to answer schools. characters.” as likely to read outside class daily. questions on the grounds that they Under China’s household registra- “It is by no means heavy… Kami Those reading below the expected might incriminate themselves, which, tion (or Hukou) system, its tens of doesn’t come out saying she is HIV- level for their age were twice as “under civil law is an implied admis- millions of migrant workers remain positive. It’s just who she is.” likely not to use their local libraries, sion of wrongdoing,” the report states. registered in their home towns even As well as teaching children to it said. “These principals, and 32 more, either if they move to the city to work. spell and count in a fun way, the Public libraries do not dispropor- were involved with, or should have Without a ‘city’ registration, they fluffy Zobi also helps educate them tionately attract children from poor known that, there was test cheating in do not have access to some state- about malaria prevention, in a coun- or rich homes, it added. their schools.” In all, the investigators subsidised services, like health and try where more than 300,000 people The research is published as com- reported finding cheating in 44 of the education. die every year from the disease. munities across England campaign to 56 schools they examined. So the children of migrant workers save their local libraries from budget often have to attend cheap, privately- ‘Me eat yam!’ cuts. Unesco: Conflict robs run schools, some of which have not It was based on a survey carried 28 million children of Not only does Zobi have a huge been approved by the authorities. out online through teachers in 112 education role to play as the co-lead muppet, State-run Xinhua news agency schools in England, Scotland and he is also the “Yam Monster”—Ni- said 24 schools in Beijing’s Haidian, Wales with 17,000 eight- to 16-year- Warfare is stopping 28 million chil- geria’s answer to the Chaoyang and Daxing districts had old pupils. dren worldwide from receiving an in the original program. been closed just before the start of It found that just under half (44%) education because of sexual violence the new term. Zobi has a huge appetite, which of the children surveyed used their and attacks on schools, the UN educa- he tries to satisfy with the starchy public library. The most common tion fund says. Nigerians set to find tuberous root vegetable which is the reason for children not to go to their The report’s author told the BBC out how to get to staple food of many Nigerians. public library was that their family one of the worst-affected places was Sesame Square Music will typically play a key did not go. the Democratic Republic of Congo, role, and many local guest artists The report said: “Family engage- calling it “the rape capital of the Starring a yam monster, an HIV-posi- will be featured. ment is well understood as a key world”. tive puppet and talking drums, the With scenes shot around the coun- element in supporting educational One third of the rapes reported in Nigerian version of the famous US try, the program will help educate achievement, and it seems that public DR Congo involve children, Unesco TV show Sesame Street is all set to Nigerian children about some of library use, as well as being as- says. hit TV screens in Nigeria. the languages, dress and traditions sociated with similar positive child It also says to achieve the UN goal There are no New York-style around the country. outcomes to school library use, has of education for all by 2015, Africa streets with tall blocks of flats punc- The producers say they will en- in addition a particularly specialised needs nearly two million new tuated with fire hydrants, but smaller sure that they take great care to rep- correlation with family support for teachers. houses with gardens surrounding a resent all of Nigeria’s many ethnic reading. “In the eastern part of the Demo- huge mango tree, lined with straw groups and promote national unity. “Young people who use their pub- cratic Republic of Congo probably baskets. This will be especially important lic library are twice as likely to say about half of all primary school-aged This is Sesame Square, featuring in a country where outbreaks of that they talk with their family about children are out of school,” Kevin Kami—a furry, golden, female mup- violence between rival communi- what they are reading at least once a Watkins, author of the report The pet, and the energetic Zobi, a blue, ties has claimed hundreds of lives week and report that they get sig- hidden crisis, told the BBC’s Network nificantly more encouragement from Africa program. their parents in reading generally.” He said the school attendance figures for Congolese girls were the 80% of Atlanta schools lowest in sub-Saharan Africa. cheated on testing, “One of the reasons for that is investigators find that this has become one of the rape capitals of the world and is having a Georgia investigators have found very profound effect on the education evidence of cheating at close to 80 system.” percent of the Atlanta schools where The sexual violence harms victims’ they examined the 2009 administra- learning potential and creates a cli- tion of state tests. mate of fear that keeps girls at home, The result was inflated test scores he said. that led to thousands of children Over a 10-year period Ethiopia being denied the remedial education reduced the number of people out of they were entitled to, state officials school by some four million. said Tuesday in announcing the re- sults of the investigation. More than 80 educators have so far confessed to misconduct, and investigators said the cheating dated back to at least 2001.

Elementary Teachers of Toronto Elementary Teachers of Toronto Toronto Teacher | October 2011 | 11 T o r o n t o T e a c h e r | T o r o n t o T e a c h e r || LABOUR DAY PARADE 2011

It’s your paper. Write for it! Have a lesson plan, educational commentary, book review, humour, or a great idea you’d like to contribute to the Toronto Teacher? Send your contributions for our next issue to [email protected]

12 | Toronto Teacher | October 2011 Elementary Teachers of Toronto