| T o r o n t o T e a c h e r | Toronto Teacher ‘Just let me teach...’

Published by the Elementary Teachers of Toronto Volume 3 l Number 3 l June 2013

Holding The Line f course I honked. Whenever I see a group wanted to get a group picture of them. As I glanced driving by. It was suggested that although the of people holding up signs that ask pass- to my right I saw a police cruiser idling in the al- people who were honking did not know the issues ing motorists to honk in support, I do it leyway beside the building that contained Wynne’s involved, they did know what teachers went through almost reflexively. office. The cops did not seem pleased. Mind you it and wanted to show their support. OThe way I see it, the people making the request was hard to tell whether it was because they disap- The number of people who showed up to protest are almost, without fail, folks who are up fighting proved of our message or because they were bored varied widely. You would have thought, given the the good fight against some sort of injustice. Could and ticked off at having drawn such a tedious as- glorious weather on the Victoria Day long weekend, be a recalcitrant employer trying to cut their wages, signment as guarding Wynne’s constituency office. people would have stayed at home to put in their benefits, or indeed, their jobs. Could be a govern- As we moved down the sidewalk for a group gardens. Instead they had double or triple the num- ment, local or foreign who is denying them justice. shot outside the office, the cruiser nosed forward in ber of demonstrators outside Wynne’s office. Peter But almost invariably the people with the signs have order, I suppose, to keep us under surveillance. noted, tongue in cheek, that he actually liked wet right on their side. As it happened, 5:00 was quitting time on the weather as it made him appear more sympathetic, In this case, I was absolutely correct. The group picket line and I arrived just in time. The happy bedraggled and pathetic. with the signs on Eglinton Avenue East, close to warriors arranged themselves in front of the constit- As food and drinks arrived and I listened to my Laird, was a mixed group of ETT and OSSTF uency office, I snapped a few pictures and the picket OSSTF colleagues discuss the situations at their District 12 activists who were continuing to hold to line broke up. schools, I was struck at how similar they were to account our Premier, Kathleen Wynne. Samira and Sebastian were on their way home what we, as elementary teachers face. Keeping I waved as I drove past and then pulled into a strip while Peter, Tim, Karen and Thom decided to head their members motivated and united, standing up mall parking lot. As I made the short jaunt to where over to Shoeless Joe’s for a beverage and a meal. to principals who chaff under the restrictions of the the protestors were, outside Kathleen Wynne’s office, As I headed back to my car to stash the camera, the Collective Agreement and try to slide around it are I could hear cars continuing to honk as they went by. police cruiser bolted down Eglinton, relieved at last, common at the high school level as well. I was rather surprised by the number of cars who did no doubt, to get involved in real police business. I am always amazed at the number of admin- so, after all there can’t be that many teachers cruising As it turns out the Premier herself is conspicu- istrators who resent the union and the Collective along Eglinton. ously absent from her office Friday afternoons. The Agreement. What a CA does is impose a set of rules When I arrived at the protestors, I was not sur- only time the protestors knew for sure she was there that defines what is permitted, for both teachers and prised to see Peter Hasek. I know Peter’s steadfast at- was back in November. Odd when you think about administrators. It provides some sense of order on titude from our work on the Political Action Commit- it as it would be a convenient time to meet constitu- the workplace. The other alternative is a state of tee and figured if anyone would be out here it would ents. anarchy with arbitrary and capricious demands on be Peter. Along with Peter were Samira Ahmed and Still the demonstrators do her the courtesy of the part of the management and wild cat strikes by Sebastian Bertrand from ETT as well as Tim Heffer- sliding one of their fliers into the office when they the employees.” nan, Thom Corner and Karen Jutzi from OSSTF. arrive and set up shop. They have been pleasantly We chatted for a while and then I explained that I surprised by the positive response from people CONTINUED ON PAGE 2

In Surefire Ways To Improve School Evaluation Survey Results 2013...... 6 Editorial...... 10 this Your School’s EQAO Scores...... 2 Rebranding the Liberals...... 8 Education Update...... 11 issue Kathleen and Me...... 3 Reading with the Angels...... 9 Building A Dream...... 12

Elementary Teachers of Toronto Elementary Teachers of Toronto Toronto Teacher | June 2013 | 1 | T o r o n t o T e a c h e r | Surefire Ways To Improve Your School’s EQAO Scores

by Andrew Campbell tive, but practice suggests otherwise. ic analysis. I am using grade 5 math more money means no more teacher Educators trying to improve skills and a little time, not deep data griping about having to bring supplies ate April and early May is a EQAO scores might need assistance. mining. Someone else is welcome to from home. Win-win. festive time in Ontario’s el- Being a helpful sort I scoured the do that. •Get Rich Quick: Schools teach- Lementary schools. The whiff of profiles of the top 15 EQAO schools Here are the surefire ways to im- ing students from higher income EQAO is in the air (did you get your to discover their Score Boosting prove your school’s EQAO scores families score higher on EQAO. The EQAO tree yet?). Secrets!!! from the top 15 EQAO schools: average annual family income of At our recent PD day we had •Move To Toronto: Hogtown the top 15 EQAO schools is $112, teachers attend workshops to learn Before sharing, two disclaimers: is home to 60% (9/15) of the top 908.33, almost double the average how best to administer the test and •EQAO doesn’t publish school 15 EQAO schools but only 20% annual family income in Ontario prepare their students. The rest of us rankings. They oppose it and claim of Ontario’s schools. That’s a huge ($65,500 in 2010). Schools can attract circled the test days in our calendar it is harmful, but still make test data over-achievement. The only non- students from high income families and were asked to be aware of the publicly available so that others GTA communities in the top 15 are with simple strategies such as school serious business afoot. Soon grade 3 can rank schools. These are also the St Catherines, Sudbury, Guelph and uniforms (think grey blazers), a glu- & 6 teachers will be stripping class- tactics of The National Rifle Associa- Arnprior. It might be the CN Tower, ten free snack program or changing room walls of student created anchor tion, cigarette companies and fast the excellent public transit, or the the school name to something with charts, so that students don’t cheat by food restaurants. Like EQAO they fine work of Mayor Rob Ford, but “Academy” in it. Planting ivy in the looking something up. claim that the harmful effects of their learning in Toronto certainly elevates front garden won’t hurt. Despite the message that no spe- products aren’t their fault, but caused EQAO scores. •No Specials: Getting rid of spe- cial preparation is needed for EQAO, by how people use them. Luckily, the •Privatize: Independent schools cial education students boosts EQAO boards require teachers to administer folks at The Fraser Institute produce serve just 6% of Ontario students but scores. The top 15 EQAO schools practice tests and offer after-school annual school rankings based on 20% of the top 15 EQAO schools average 11.12% special education ‘booster’ clubs to help students im- EQAO scores, and it’s their data I (3/15) are independent, fee charging students, while the provincial average prove their EQAO scores. The official used for this analysis. schools. Privatizing your school not is 19%, almost double. Apply some of position is that the tests aren’t evalua- •This is not, in any way, a scientif- only improves EQAO scores, but the new income from privatization to paying special education students to transfer to neighbouring schools. This will lower your competitors scores, ETT Stewards’ meeting making you look even better. •Speak English: The top 15 EQAO schools have only 3% of students that are English Language Learners, less than half of the provin- cial average of 7%. Surprising given the large number of top 15 schools in the GTA, where the ELL popula- tion is reported to be well above the provincial average. Remember this when relocating to Toronto. Location, location, location.

Summary: To transform your school’s EQAO scores become a private school, located in Toronto, with mostly native English speaking students from high income families. Deny admission to special education students. HOLDING THE LINE chronic pain or a mental health issue and then he stated, “The Liberal gov- Related Findings: CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 such as stress, you could be flagged as ernment supports public education the someone taking sick days unnecessar- way a rope supports a hanging man.” •Faith based instruction doesn’t af- I was curious as to why they contin- ily and be called to account. The tab came, we settled up and it fect EQAO scores. A third of Ontario ued to come out to protest even though As far as Thom was concerned, was time to head for home. As I walked schools are faith based and the same a contract has been imposed on us. everything in the last year was il- down the street, I thought of a favourite proportion are represented in the top Peter was personally outraged by the legitimate, the imposed contract was phrase of Wynne’s ‘turning the page.’ 15 EQAO schools. number of people who were robbed illegal, and simply trying to mitigate The Premier was anxious to turn the •The next 15 schools in the rank- of their sick days and the attitude of the bad terms of the contract did not page on Bill 115, the imposed contract ings show an even greater GTA bias “here’s your contract, take it or leave make them good, just not as bad. What and teacher protests. (13/15). Could it be the sweet waters it.” he hoped Wynne would do was what What the people who gather out- of Lake Ontario? Further research He cited the case of a teacher who Kennedy suggested, rip up the con- side her office on Friday after school required. had MS and could work on good days tract and start over again. The reason do is prevent her from moving on to •The bottom 15 schools in the but not on bad ones. In the past they he was out there was to send a signal the next chapter of her Premiership. Fraser Institute rankings show the were able to make use of their banked to both the union and the government Their physical presence is a reminder following: sick days when they were off work but that he was not satisfied. Ultimately, if to Kathleen Wynne that the injustices •None are from Toronto and none now that this buffer was removed they you could suspend basic constitutional the Liberal government perpetrated on are private schools are looking at not only a devastating rights for one group, what is there to teachers remain. •About half (7/15) are in First illness but poverty as well. If you enjoy prevent you from do so with any other An election will come in the not too Nations, fly-in communities in good health, the loss of banked sick group. distant future. In the past teachers have Northern Ontario. days, aside from the retirement gratu- When I asked Tim why he was out formed a large cadre of the workers •The seven First Nations schools ity, is no big deal. If you suffer from a he gave a wry smile and stated that he hammering in signs, phoning voters don’t report family income, but chronic condition it is. was a general shit disturber. He did and walking up to front doors to gather the remaining eight schools in The TDSB has moved to an ‘atten- make the following observations. First, support for the Liberals. It is obvious the bottom 15 have an aver- dance management’ scheme. Absences if the union negotiates a contract on that not only the teachers outside her age annual family income of from work will be more rigorously the part of its members, it is working office and many, many others will not $41,775, almost half the average scrutinized. This will present problems for the membership. If they accept a be among them. Ontario annual family income. for people with conditions that are not government contract, they are working easily diagnosed. If you suffer from for the government. There was a pause

2 | Toronto Teacher | June 2013 Elementary Teachers of Toronto | T oo rr oo nn t o T e a c h e r | Kathleen and Me

by Bruce Stodart swallowed and hit the Send button. tion and ran unsuccessfully for school to try to get support from our commu- The following morning there was a trustee in 1994. When Harris began nity. I signed up for her campaign on t is not every day that you reply. Of course I should include it in his attack on the education system, she the spot. the article, she was completely open helped to found the Metro Parents Net- At the time, I had no idea what her find yourself discussing the about it. work. Although she was flying below sexual orientation was and it would sexual preferences of the However that was not the first time my radar at the time she was building a have made little difference to me. How- I I had encountered Kathleen Wynne. coalition. ever when I showed up at her house Minister of Education with the Those of you who were around in Amongst the groups determined to to go canvasing for votes, there was a Minister herself. Yet there I 1997 may recall what was, for To- fight this anti-democratic initiative was soft spoken, short haired woman who was, about to send an e-mail ronto, perhaps the most contentious a ginger group of thirty ratepayers who seemed to be somewhat distressed. to Kathleen Wynne on precise- legislation of that singularly unpopular gathered at Lawrence Park Collegiate At first I took her to be a campaign politician, Mike Harris. In that year to come up with strategies to defeat organizer or a fellow canvasser. It was ly that topic. Harris announced plans for the forced Harris’ plan. In time it joined with only later I found out she was Kath- Del Milbrandt, Paul Wilson amalgamation of large cities and towns former mayor John Sewell to become leen’s partner, Jane Rounthwaite. It was and myself had concluded in the province. For Toronto this meant Citizens for Local Democracy. It was from Jane I found out that scurrilous jamming together the six municipali- a quixotic campaign that went down homophobic literature was appearing in an interview with her on the ties of Metropolitan Toronto into one to defeat but succeeded in bringing the ward that said that Kathleen was a weekend and as part of the large megacity. Kathleen into some ‘radical lesbian.’ article I included a brief bio- A group of city activists came prominence. Kathleen came down graphical sketch. As with any together to form Citizens for Local I never made her the stairs and seemed Democracy. As it grew in numbers, acquaintance through somewhat subdued. The of these bits of boilerplate, I meetings were held at the Metropoli- the Citizens for Local The sense issue of the literature detailed her domestic situation tan United Church on Queen Street. In Democracy meetings of betrayal was came up. I said that it and mentioned that she lived time, the number of people attending and she had slipped my “ seemed to me that this their meetings swelled to the extent mind as I made my way palpable. Many business of her being with her three children and that they exceeded the church’s capac- outside after a Baycrest a ‘radical lesbian’ was her partner Jane. Now Jane ity and Massey Hall was rented to School Council meet- of these people wrongheaded. It was is not a gender neutral name contain the throngs of supporters who ing, into the dark and like being pregnant. showed up for its mass meetings. chilly October night. As had voted for You can’t be a little bit like, say, Pat and in doing so From my perch in the balcony I I made my way outside, pregnant, you either I would reveal that Kathleen understood why John Sewell was there stood that same Harris and yet are pregnant or you are was a lesbian. on the stage channeling some Old slight, blonde haired he seemed bent not pregnant. Similarly Although her colleagues at Queen’s Testament prophet. But who was that woman I saw at the you can’t be a ‘radical’ Park knew she was a lesbian, indeed slight blonde haired woman slicing CLD meetings. Howev- on gutting their lesbian, you either are her first speech in parliament men- and dicing the presumptions on which er she was far from the a lesbian or you are not tioned this fact, it was not widely city wide amalgamation was based stage at Massey Hall, neighbourhood a lesbian. There was a known by the public. 2007 seems like and delineating its essentially undemo- she was standing under pause, she laughed and the recent past however the recent cratic nature. Kathleen Wynne was not the morality lights in the school. we headed out the door debate over gay marriage has pushed a name I had heard of before and I was school parking lot. in a much happier frame the acceptability of a leader who is gay puzzled as to who she was and why Kathleen wanted to of mind. or lesbian into an inconsequential fact she should be front and centre. address the Baycrest When Kathleen was of their private life. The key was Lawrence Park Colle- parents but was denied the opportunity elected” School Trustee for Ward 8, Moreover her riding contained giate. Wynne was active in the Law- by the principal. Now most politi- the Harris cuts were beginning to bite. pockets of people who were politically rence Park Collegiate Parents Associa- cians would simply have gone home to Rather than conduct an across-the- progressive but socially conservative. their families and turned on ‘Law and board slashing of the TDSB budget by As she was the underdog in a tight Order.’ Not Kathleen. She staked out a some $90 million to balance the books, election battle against John Tory, the place in that clammy, slowly darken- a group of trustees conducted public then PC leader, this information ing parking lot until the meeting broke hearings that led to a ‘Need to Succeed’ could cost her votes and possibly up so she could speak to the parents as budget that reflected the true cost of the election. I outlined my they came outside. running the TDSB. If implemented, it dilemma in an e-mail to her, This impressed the heck out of me would have increased funding from the on a couple of levels. First that she had province by $374 million. the tenacity to tough it out for an entire Wynne was one of the leaders of a hour in what was a rather menacing caucus of school trustees who devel- location. The second was that she even oped the proposal and stood up to the bothered to canvas the parents at Bay- Tories. When the trustees voted down crest at all. Baycrest is a small Special the proposal to make the $90 million Needs school and there were not a in cuts, the TDSB, along with school whole lot of votes to be gained there. boards in Hamilton and Ottawa, were Indeed she is the only politician in my taken over by the province. Even then, 26 years at the school who ever saw fit the province couldn’t balance the books. Throughout all of the upheaval, Kathleen held regular Ward 8 meetings, however they were decidedly unortho- dox ones. She would report on the do- ings at the school board and then throw the meetings open to a free wheeling discussion amongst the people present. The sense of betrayal was palpable. Many of these people had voted for Harris and yet he seemed bent on gutting their neighbourhood school. At times the gatherings felt less like a Home and School Association meeting than a clandestine council of an Oc- cupy the Mowat Block cell. There was a strange sort of dissonance given the

PHOTO: Craig Robertson / QMI Agency Craig Robertson / QMI PHOTO: CONTINUED ON PAGE 4

Elementary Teachers of Toronto Elementary Teachers of Toronto Toronto Teacher | June 2013 | 3 | T o r o n t o T e a c h e r |

KATHLEEN AND ME Kathleen’s seat. Although she enjoyed house on the weekend. We walked up even more affluent than the last time CONTINUED FROM PAGE 3 the advantages of incumbency, Tory the driveway past a yellow grocery around, York Mills. Yet again I was obviously had a much higher profile getter car and knocked on the front surprised by the number of tax lawyers, well coifed North Toronto ladies pres- and the PCs would move heaven and door. We were led to the front parlour thoracic surgeons and stock brokers ent and their fiery rhetoric. earth to get him elected. and a pair of leather love seats. who said that they were going to vote It was a given that I would work on My principal, Wayne Copp, retired What you see on TV is what you get for Kathleen. her next school trustee campaign. As that June just before the election and I from Kathleen in person. She speaks in Mind you, Tory did not help his far as I was concerned she had estab- got upon my hind legs at his party to complete sentences devoid of the ‘Um’ cause with his bone headed promise to lished her bona fides not just through deliver a few words. After I finished, and ‘Ah’ most people use to gather extend public school funding beyond her reaching out to the folks at Bay- I ducked outside for a smoke and was their thoughts. Indeed there are times Catholic education to other faith based crest but her willingness to stand her astonished to see a sleek, black limou- when her thoughts seem to outrun her schools. Still, it was an unlikely coali- ground against the Harris government. sine idling at the curb. ability to voice them and she has to tion of forces who gathered at her On Election Night I took the results Of course I did what I usually do in stop, regroup and start again. More- victory party. There were teachers, yes from my poll to her house. However such situations. I approached the one over her training as a mediator comes but outnumbering them were North I was instructed to go the kitchen and way windows and waved wildly at the through in these situations. Instead Toronto accountants and Afghan cab out the back door. Then I was to cut occupant inside. No response, not that of staying on message, pontificating drivers from Thorncliffe Park. She across her backyard, through a gate and I was expecting one. previously developed talking points, won, walking away 51% to 44%. knock on the back door of a house that Then I looked up and lo and behold, she actually listens, giving the impres- As 2007 rolled into 2008 negotia- was kitty corner to her own. I was let in there was Kathleen striding down sion that she is almost drinking in the tions appeared on the horizon. Before the house and led to the living room. the sidewalk towards me. Although speaker’s words. She tilts the province took over There I encountered what appeared Wayne himself had not personally her head slightly to the financing education, local to be a husband and wife, the husband invited her to his retirement party she side and looks at you. As school boards negoti- hunched over a card table as he jotted got wind of it and schlepped all the she starts to grasp where ated contracts with their down figures. It was only later on that way out to the Eastern edges of Scar- your words are lead- . . .Tory did teachers and paid their I found out that the man was in fact borough to be there. ing to she begins to nod salaries from the property Kathleen’s ex-husband. What was even more astonishing almost imperceptibly not help his cause tax base. When they separated Kathleen was that she remembered not only before she replies. “ The exception were and her husband Phil Cowperthwaite who I was but the situation at my The discussion was with his bone poorer, mostly rural agreed that they wanted as little disrup- tiny Inner City school. I considered pretty wide ranging, headed promise school boards whose tion to their children’s lives as possible. palming my cigarette but figured if from the Funding For- funds were subsidized Consequently, Phil bought the house she could be up front about her sexual mula to OFIP to EQAO to extend public by the province. Now it that shared a fence with his former orientation I could do the same with to surplus schools. was the province who residence so that the children could my addictions. Although she was well school funding gave money to the school go back and forth between the their We chatted for a bit about life at briefed on her portfo- boards based on a highly mom’s house and their dad’s house Queen’s Park, schools in general and lio, she did not fall into beyond Catholic flawed funding formula. whenever they wanted. then I brought up the election. Her the temptation of most The Tories got In 2003, Kathleen made a run for a mouth tightened a bit and then she politicians to appear education to other around the problem of seat at Queen’s Park. My home riding, smiled. She allowed that it would be omniscient. She was can- underfunding by using Toronto-Danforth, is about as safe an an uphill fight but that she thought she did and did not hesitate faith based the school boards as a NDP riding as exists in Canada and could pull it off. to say, “I’m sorry, I don’t firewall. “Look”, they’d rather than bounce the rubble of a As the school year began we had an know the answer to that schools. say, “We give plenty of futile Conservative campaign against editorial meeting to discuss possible question,” or “I don’t cash to the school boards. Marilyn Churley, I decided to give articles and what issues would be of have access to that detail We can’t help it if they’re Kathleen’s campaign a hand. She was particular interest to the membership. of information.” ”stupid with money.” It worked to a running against an old Tory war horse We decided to get in touch with Kath- As we were about to leave I asked certain extent with the public at first and cabinet minister David Turnbull. leen and see if we could get her take what she thought of the upcoming elec- but less so as the years went by. What I It seemed unlikely she would win in on the state of education generally and tion, she paused and said, “Well, it’s didn’t realize is that the Liberals were this affluent North Toronto riding but the election in particular. going to be tough but it’s winnable.” I taking note of this strategy. I went out and knocked on doors in I have done any number of these couldn’t resist a final one. “So, what do As is typical, our contract expired Leaside. sorts of interviews and inevitably they the neighbours think when the limou- before a new one was signed. However However the oddest thing occurred. take place in an ornate office or at sine pulls up?” It was the only time instead of bargaining money issues Don Valley West did contain Leaside, some massive mahogany boardroom I saw her flustered. She said, almost with the province as we did in the North Toronto and York Mills but it table while a press flack stands at the apologetically, that yes, she did have a previous round of negotiations, the also contained Thorncliffe Park. Tradi- ready with a tape recorder in hand limousine and talked about what a ter- Ontario Public School Boards Associa- tionally, tenants are much less likely to ready to leap in if the interviewee rific guy her driver, Brian was and how tion (OPSBA) was going to represent vote than home owners, but Kathleen ‘misspeaks’ his/herself. it let her get work done on her way to management. pulled out astonishingly large num- Instead Del received an e-mail from Queens Park. This allowed the provincial Ministry, bers of them. Moreover as I made my Kathleen suggesting we pop by her This time I canvassed a poll that was and Kathleen, to stand back and say, rounds knocking on doors in Leaside I “Whoa there, we have nothing to do was surprised by the positive reception with this. It is up to the unions and the I received. school boards to come to an agree- When it came time to pull the vote ment.” This was disingenuous at best. on Election Day she was able to mar- OPSBA could only negotiate money shal a veritable army of workers on the issues on the basis of what funds the ground. What was even more interest- province supplied to them. In the end ing was the make up of her scrutineers. Kathleen came in with a take it or leave It seemed as though every third person it proposal that resulted in a 2% wage I talked to was a teacher. She ended up decrease for ETFO, relative to the other winning by a comfortable margin, 51% unions, as a penalty for our militancy. to 44% of the vote. Let’s be honest, the money did bug I lost track of Kathleen as she made me. It may have been a paltry amount her way up the caucus ladder. She but the message it sent was that we started as parliamentary secretary, a were naughty children who needed to sort of second in command for Ge- be chastized. More than that was the rard Kennedy and Sandra Pupatello at mendacity of the exercise. Education and took over the portfolio There was the posturing that some- during a cabinet shuffle in the fall of how the negotiations were left to 2006. OPSBA, that the province had nothing An election was called for October to do with it. Yet when it came down 10, 2007 and Kathleen appeared to to the short strokes, the province in the be in trouble. John Tory a moderate person of Kathleen herself delivered an Conservative from Toronto had been ultimatum and told us what we would elected leader of the Ontario PCs have to accept. and was running in Don Valley West, It may well be that she was con-

4 | Toronto Teacher | June 2013 Elementary Teachers of Toronto | T oo rr oo nn t o T e a c h e r |

cerned that she was seen as the ‘teach- expecting was Sections 14 and 15 and up one side of her and down the other. steel and can be quite inflexible when ers’ minister’ and needed to distance the statement that the Ontario Labour I was going to hold her feet to the fire she sets her mind to it. In the 2008 herself from that characterization. It Relations Board could not refer to the over this, Instead I found myself warm- round of bargaining, she used OPSBA could be that she needed to make a Ontario Human Rights Code or the ing to her, drawn in by her seeming as a firewall to hide her role in the con- swing to the right to broaden her ap- Constitution and that no court, includ- earnestness and sincerity. tract talks but was not above coming in peal within the Liberal Party to further ing the Supreme Court, could review She intimated that the Liberals were at the last moment with the ultimatum her political ambitions. Whatever the it. not solidly behind the approach Laurel and the 2% cut in our salaries. reason, I soured on Kathleen Wynne She was flummoxed but as in the Broten had chosen. I came away with She was elected de facto Premier at and vowed never to work for her again. past was candid and did not try to the sense that there were two factions the Liberal convention on January 27 In the years that followed Kathleen bull her way through it. “I’m sorry, within the Liberal party who were and met shortly thereafter with Sam moved from Education to Transporta- I haven’t read this before.” She read duking it out and this dynamic did play Hammond and the other presidents of tion to Municipal Affairs and Aborigi- over the two sections just to make sure itself out at the convention. In the end the teacher unions. Hammond stated at nal Affairs. they said what I said they did. “Well I we agreed to disagree and I waved a the time that, “It was the first meeting I noted these moves with cheery good-bye as I headed I’ve had with government representa- some slight interest before turn- out the door. It wasn’t until I tives in over a year that were positive ing the pages of the Globe to the was halfway home that the in tone and approach.” editorial cartoon. However I was thought struck me. What the Be that as it may, those words were still on her e-mailing list and Robert Millard first clued me heck just happened to me? spoken over three months ago, as of received regular invitations to Kathleen went into the this writing, and there seems to be little socials with the Minister, mes- in to the fact that there was something Liberal leadership convention if any movement by Wynne and her sages I promptly deleted. “ trailing Sandra Pupatello in the government. The one concession is a Robert Millard first clued fishy in the Liberal’s Bill 115, ‘Putting number of committed delegates. pledge not to revoke our constitution- me in to the fact that there was Students First’ Act. . . . the Minister Moreover more of the party ally guaranteed Freedom of Assem- something fishy in the Liberal’s brass and caucus backed her bly and Freedom of Speech. In other Bill 115, ‘Putting Students First’ of Education had placed herself and the opponent. I looked at the figures words, that they have no plans to break Act. When I downloaded it, and determined that it was a the most fundamental laws of the land I discovered that, courtesy of Liberal government above the Ontario lock, for Wynne. again. Sections 14 and 15, the Minister I had seen her in action, A punter would look at the Liberal’s of Education had placed herself Human Rights Code, the Canadian canvassing voters, schmoozing current situation and lay heavy bets and the Liberal government with constituents and figured against them in the next election. A above the Ontario Human Charter of Rights and Freedoms and that she would make up the massive deficit, a shrinking manufac- Rights Code, the Canadian difference easily. Sure enough turing base, the scandals at E-Health, Charter of Rights and Freedoms the Supreme Court. she and her campaign adopted a ORNG, the $600 million gas plant and the Supreme Court. second choice strategy whereby cancellation bill and alienated teachers, Coincidentally an e-mail she was BFF with the other can- once their most active base of cam- from Kathleen’s office in- ” didates and I was not surprised paign workers, taken together should formed me that she was when Hoskins, who Pupatello foretell a massive defeat at the polls for working Second Cup coffee shops don’t know what to say, I don’t have believed would be supporting her, the Liberals. in her riding on Saturday mornings and an answer.” broke and went over to Wynne. Once But that does not take into account invited me to stop by for a chat and a I explained that what really riled again Kathleen won decisively, 1150 to the Wynne factor. Many commentators coffee. I decided to take her up on her teachers was the government saying 866, or 55% to 45% of the vote. have noted that the longer she stays in offer. that we were greedy and all we cared So what sort of Premier will Wynne office, the more support she receives. It was a grey and drizzling Septem- about was money. I pointed out that be? First and foremost, a very astute Currently she has a 40% approval ber morning when I tooled up to the even before we knew the contents of one. She has that politicians’ gift of not rating from the public, a rating that Second Cup north of Lawrence and Bill 115, OSSTF said they would ac- only being able to put names to faces continues to rise and drag her party Yonge. And yes, there was Kathleen cept a pay freeze and likely we in the but recalls the incidental details of their along with her. standing just inside the doorway as Elementary panel would as well. lives. It is a long way from the parking chipper as ever, flagging down patrons It really was about a matter of As mentioned previously, she also lot of Baycrest Public School to the and offering to sport them to a cup of principle. Our constitutionally guar- has the knack of concentrating exclu- Premier’s office. And I must admit to coffee. anteed Freedom of Association and sively on the person she is speaking to a small personal problem. Despite the It was many years since I had last due process would be legislated out of and has the ability to listen intently to 2% gap in salary increases from the spoken to her but she had that uncanny existence. what they are saying rather than look previous round of negotiations and politician’s knack of remembering a Kathleen conceded my points but for an opportunity, witness Broten, to the current unwillingness to negotiate face. More than that however, she re- then said that she wanted the problem deliver a predetermined message. meaningful changes to our imposed membered Baycrest and marveled that solved through negotiations. How, she I find it telling that the Ministry she contract I still have a residual respect my hair was not grey. I explained that I wanted to know, could the province picked to head was Agriculture. It is for Kathleen. She was on the right side put shoe polish in it every morning. negotiate with teachers if they left the an area where she lacks direct experi- of so many of our causes and put in We made our way to a table and I table after only one hour of talks. ence and knowledge and will help her long arduous hours of work on behalf got out Bill 115. I’m not sure what she Over the next ten minutes or so she shed her image as a Toronto, big city of our schools and our kids when she was expecting. Perhaps a complaint returned to this theme, the need to sit Premier. Already she has restored some could have been at home enjoying her about the government’s imposition of down and come to some sort of con- subsidies to the horse racing industry, family. It is hard not to feel some, well, a contract. Perhaps the fact that the sensus. However, as we talked some an important concern in many rural affection really, for the woman and to government refused to undertake real thing entirely unforeseen occurred. I areas. wish her well. Just not too well. negotiations. But what she was not went to the Second Cup prepared to go That being said, she has a core of

ETT Stewards’ meeting

Elementary Teachers of Toronto Elementary Teachers of Toronto Toronto Teacher | June 2013 | 5 | T o r o n t o T e a c h e r | School Evaluation Survey Results 2013

Surveys Surveys Surveys Site Family Staff Returned Grade Site Family Staff Returned Grade Site Family Staff Returned Grade

A Chester Le Jr PS ER18 10 10 20.4 Finch PS ER17 15 12 11.3 Adam Beck Jr PS ER11 22 16 11.8 Chief Dan George PS ER20 16 15 17.3 Firgrove PS WR2 27 12 11.8 Africentric Alternative WR2 13 10 11.6 Chine Dr PS ER13 10 9 16.4 First Nations School WR10 13 Agincourt Jr PS ER19 13 9 17.4 Church St Jr PS WR9 16 10 16.7 Fisherville JHS WR3 10.5 9 16 Agnes Macphail Jr PS ER19 13 10 16.7 Churchill Hghts PS ER14 22 11 5.8 Fleming PS ER20 18 8 20 Albion Heights Jr MS WR1 31 6 12.6 Churchill PS ER17 16 8 14.5 Flemington PS WR3 25 20 12.2 Alexander Muir/Gladstone Ave Jr/Sr PS City View Alternative Sr WR7 1 Forest Hill Jr & Sr PS WR8 31 WR7 22 11 16.4 Claireville JS WR1 25 20 15.1 Forest Manor PS ER15 44 24 15.4 Alexander Stirling PS ER20 22 22 16.4 Clairlea PS ER12 24 Forest Valley Outdoor Ed Ctr 2 Alexmuir Jr PS ER19 25 Claude Watson / Arts ER17 20 8 19.1 Frankland Community Jr PS WR10 16 9 17 Allenby Jr PS WR3 39 13 14.6 Cliffside JPS ER12 9 Alpha Alternative WR7 6 Cliffwood PS ER17 19 18 8.9 G Alpha II Alternative WR7 Clinton St Jr PS WR9 22 9 18.4 Galloway Rd PS ER20 14 12 14.8 Amesbury MS WR5 32 18 12.8 Cordella Jr PS WR5 13 9 15.1 Garden Ave Jr PS WR7 13 10 14.2 Ancaster PS WR3 32 7 17.2 Cornell Jr PS ER14 50 33 13.8 Gateway PS ER15 55 Annette St Jr/Sr PS WR7 24 13 12.5 Corvette Jr PS ER12 28 16 11.9 General Brock PS ER12 20 Anson Park PS ER13 14 Cosburn MS WR10 29 General Crerar PS ER12 19 16 20 Anson S Taylor Jr PS ER19 15 9 6.4 Cottingham Jr PS WR8 7 5 12.8 General Mercer Jr PS WR8 12 Arbor Glen PS ER17 15 Courcelette PS ER12 14 6 15.3 George Anderson PS WR5 15 8 10.4 Arlington MSl WR8 25 CR Marchant MS WR5 22 George B Little PS ER20 30 11 12 Armour Hghts PS WR3 20 9 16.2 Crescent Town ES ER11 68 George P Mackie Jr PS ER13 10 9 17.9 Avondale E & S Alternative ER17 20 Cresthaven PS ER17 15 8 19.6 George Peck PS ER12 14 Crestview PS ER18 27 17 19.4 George R Gauld JS WR6 12 9 16.7 B Cummer Valley MS ER17 35 17 16 George Syme Community WR5 26 16 9.3 Bala Av Community WR5 21 George Webster ES ER11 26 16 13 Balmy Beach Community Jr ER11 19 7 13.7 D Givins/Shaw Jr/Sr PS WR7 15 12 15.4 Banting & Best PS ER19 24 12 13.4 DA Morrison MS ER11 32 14 9.4 Glamorgan PS ER15 45 35 9.4 Baycrest PS WR3 11 8 15.1 da Vinci School WR9 4 3 13.5 Gledhill Jr PS ER11 26 18 11.6 Bayview MS ER17 29 8 12.4 Dallington PS ER18 28 18 13.7 Glen Ames Sr PS ER11 25 14 10.4 Beaches Alternative Jr ER11 4 Danforth Gdns PS ER12 30 Glen Park PS WR3 26 9 16.2 Beaumonde Hghts JMS WR1 37 14 14.2 David Hornell JS WR6 10 11 17 Glen Ravine Jr PS ER14 16 10 15.4 Bedford Park Jr PS ER16 25 David Lewis PS ER18 21 11 17.4 Glenview Sr PS WR3 32 20 18 Bellmere Jr PS ER14 25 21 12.1 Davisville/Metro / Deaf WR8 24 7 15.9 Golf Road Jr PS ER14 20 10 18.2 Bendale Jr PS ER14 22 18 5.1 Daystrom PS WR1 35 14 14.5 Gordon A. Brown M ER11 20 10 18.3 Bennington Hghts ES ER16 13 Deer Park Jr/Sr PS WR8 28 Gosford PS WR2 15 9 5.1 Berner Trail Jr PS ER20 24 7 15.7 Delta Alternative Sr WR9 3 Gracedale PS WR1 44 34 17.1 Bessborough Dr ES ER16 34 20 6.9 Denlow PS ER16 28 Gracefield PS WR5 21 Beverley Hghts MS WR2 33 10 17.2 Dennis Ave Community WR5 13 6 14.8 Greenholme JR-MS WR1 32 Beverley Jr PS WR9 12 Derrydown PS WR2 29 19 12.1 Greenland PS ER15 12 7 15.2 Beverly Glen Jr PS ER18 23 11 15.6 Dewson St Jr PS WR7 23 12 6.3 Grenoble PS ER15 52 8 16 Birch Cliff Hghts PS ER12 14 11 12.7 Diefenbaker Elementary WR10 21 14 16.7 Grey Owl Jr PS ER20 16 14 17.4 Birch Cliff PS ER12 19 12 13.6 Dixon Grove Jr MS WR4 46 21 6.7 Guildwood Jr PS ER13 13 Blacksmith PS WR2 17 15 11.2 Don Mills MS ER15 24 Gulfstream PS WR1 31 19 12.5 Blake Street J PS ER10 17 12 17.8 Don Valley JHS ER18 13 4 7.5 Blantyre PS ER12 15 Donview MS ER15 25 8 19.4 H Blaydon PS WR2 14 10 14.3 Donwood Park Jr PS ER14 40 13 17.5 HJ Alexander Community WR5 40 17.9 Bliss Carman Sr PS ER13 21 16 6.3 Dorset Park PS ER12 20 14 13.4 HA Halbert Jr PS ER13 20 8 13.5 Bloordale MS WR4 23 16 13.4 Dovercourt Jr PS WR7 13 Harrison PS ER16 16 10 14.7 Bloorlea MS WR6 13 Downsview PS WR2 13 8 19.4 Harwood Jr PS WR5 15 11 12.3 Bloorview/Macmillan - Bloorview 25 12 14.8 Downtown Alternative WR9 5 5 15.2 Hawthorne II Bilingual Altern WR9 9 7 10.1 Blythwood Jr PS ER16 17 11 15.4 Dr Marion Hilliard Sr PS ER20 21 9 13 Heather Hghts Jr Ps ER20 21 7 16.1 Bowmore PS ER11 44 9 11.7 Driftwood PS WR2 28 19 5.3 Henry Hudson Sr PS ER20 29 Braeburn JS WR1 17 8 10.6 Dublin Hghts E & MS WR3 31 18 9.1 Henry Kelsey Sr PS ER19 33 17 11 Brian PS ER18 23 17 8.1 Duke Of Connaught Jr/Sr PS ER11 40 16 13.6 Heritage Park PS ER20 28 Briarcrest Jr PS WR4 18 10 13.6 Dundas Junior PS WR10 19 10 15.6 High Park Alternative Prmy WR7 9 8 10.3 Bridlewood Jr PS ER18 12 9 15.8 Dunlace PS ER16 20 9 18.1 Highcastle PS ER20 25 Brimwood Blvd Jr PS ER19 23 23 7.9 Highfield JS WR1 46 39 7.8 Broadacres Jr WR4 17 16 6.6 E Highland Creek PS ER19 12 9 18 Broadlands PS ER15 23 13 18.3 Earl Beatty Jr/Sr PS ER11 21 15 12.1 Highland Hghts Jr PS ER17 18 Brock Jr PS WR7 12 Earl Grey Sr PS WR10 22 14 15.8 Highland JHS ER19 13 Brookhaven PS WR5 32 9 7.8 Earl Haig Jr PS ER11 25 9 13 Highview PS 13 12 9.9 Brookmill Blvd Jr PS ER18 20 EAST(East Alternative School of Toronto) Hillcrest Jr PS WR8 20 12 17.6 Brooks Rd PS ER20 23 WR10 3 3 20.3 Hillmount PS ER17 20 19 16.2 Brookside PS ER20 34 11 12.8 Eastview Jr PS ER13 25 Hilltop MS WR4 30 13 6.9 Brookview MS WR2 30 15 7.4 Eatonville JS WR4 14 Hodgson Sr PS WR8 18 Brown PS WR8 29 18 7.6 Edgewood PS ER14 13 9 9.4 Hollycrest MS WR4 21 Bruce Jr PS WR10 12 Eglinton Jr PS (Spectrum Alt School Sr) Hollywood PS ER17 11 6 17.1 Buchanan PS ER12 23 15 16.2 WR8 24 17 8 Horizon Alternative WR9 4 7.8 Burrows Hall Jr PS ER20 17 Elia MS WR2 28 Howard Jr PS WR7 31 11 11.9 Elizabeth Simcoe Jr PS ER13 16 12 20.1 Humber Summit MS WR1 33 19 15.2 C Elkhorn PS ER17 21 Humber Valley Village Jr MS WR4 21 12 14.1 Calico PS WR2 24 9 16.1 Ellesmere-Statton PS ER12 37 26 17.2 Humbercrest PS WR6 36 9 14.8 Cameron PS ER17 15 Elmbank JR-MS Academy WR1 37 7 9.1 Humberwood Downs JM Academy Carleton Village Jr/Sr PS WR8 30 5 9.6 Elmlea JS WR1 24 18 14.2 WR1 53 Cassandra PS ER15 19 9 12.8 Emily Carr PS ER20 34 18 8.3 Humewood Community WR8 21 16 11.1 CD Farquharson Jr PS ER19 24 13 14.6 Ernest PS ER18 14 4 17.7 Hunter’s Glen Jr PS ER14 26 4 18 Cedar Dr Jr PS ER13 60 17 16.2 Essex PS WR9 21 10 11 Huron Street Jr PS WR9 23 20 17.8 Cedarbrook Jr PS ER14 16 7 8.1 Etienne Brule JS WR6 12 7 10.4 Cedarvale Community WR8 25 10 15.3 Etobicoke Outdoor Ed Ctr I Centennial Rd Jr PS ER13 15 Indian Road Cres Jr PS WR7 18 10 13.4 Chalkfarm PS WR2 13 7 15.1 F Inglewood Hghts Jr PS ER19 15 6 11.2 Charles E Webster Jr PS WR5 5 8.6 Fairbank Memorial Commun WR8 16 Ionview PS ER12 25 12 10.5 Charles G Fraser Jr PS WR7 18 10 10.4 Fairbank MS WR3 15 15 9.9 Iroquois Jr PS ER19 15 13 17.7 Charles Gordon Sr PS ER14 31 7 12 Fairglen Jr PS ER18 14 Island Public/Natural Science WR9 13 Charles H Best MS WR3 18 8 10.5 Fairmount Jr PS ER13 20 12 14.8 Islington Jr MS WR6 27 Charlottetown Jr PS ER13 24 20 11.3 Faywood Arts Based Curriculum WR3 21 7 8.3 Chartland Jr PS ER19 13 9 14 Fenside PS ER15 23 7 13.4 J Cherokee PS ER18 11 5 8.2 Fern Avenue Jr/Sr PS WR7 26 7 15.9 Jack Miner Sr PS ER13 14 6 8.8 Chester Elementary WR10 27 12 7.1 FH Miller Jr PS WR8 10 4 17.8 Jackman Ave Jr PS WR10 37 20 12.1

6 | Toronto Teacher | June 2013 Elementary Teachers of Toronto || T o r o n t o T ee aa cc hh ee rr || School Evaluation Survey Results 2013

Surveys Surveys Surveys Site Family Staff Returned Grade Site Family Staff Returned Grade Site Family Staff Returned Grade

James S Bell Jr MS WR6 22 North Preparatory Jr PS WR3 15 14 11.9 Smithfield MS WR1 43 32 10.8 JB Tyrrell Sr PS ER18 23 21 19.2 Northlea E & MS ER16 46 17 9 Spectrum Alternative WR8 3 Jesse Ketchum Jr/Sr PS WR9 40 Norway PS ER11 16 7 15.9 Sprucecourt Jr PS WR9 23 JG Workman PS ER12 17 13 15.4 St. Andrew’s JHS ER14 24 8 16.8 John A. Leslie PS ER13 21 O St. Andrew’s PS ER16 20 John Buchan Sr PS ER19 22 12 13.6 Oakdale Park MS WR2 42 22 13.4 St. George’s JS WR4 12 4 14.5 John D Parker JS WR1 40 17 15.4 Oakridge Jr PS ER12 46 23 12.5 St. Margaret’s PS ER20 24 20 8.8 John English JMS WR6 29 O’Connor PS ER15 13 6 19 Stanley PS WR2 23 16 5.9 John Fisher Jr PS ER16 30 12 5.7 Ogden Jr PS WR7 11 8 13.8 Steelesview PS ER17 17 John G Althouse MS WR4 29 Orde St PS WR9 19 17 15.5 Stilecroft PS WR2 19 7 10 John G Diefenbaker PS ER20 19 7 8.6 Oriole Park Jr PS WR8 10 7 11 Summit Hghts PS WR3 22 13 18.5 John McCrae Sr PS ER14 27 13 13.5 Ossington/Old Orchard Jr PS WR7 14 16 20.4 Sunny View Jr/Sr. PS ER16 25 10 14.9 John Ross Robertson PS WR3 28 17 16.1 Owen PSl ER16 36 7 13.7 Sunnylea JS WR6 13 10 17.5 John Wanless Jr PS WR3 32 Swansea PS WR6 30 Joseph Brant Sr PS ER13 21 21 15.3 P Joseph Howe Sr PS ER13 21 14 13.5 Palmerston Ave PS WR9 30 14 15.4 T Joyce PS WR3 17 16 12.6 Pape Ave Jr PS WR10 17 13 11.8 Tam O’Shanter Jr PS ER19 19 13 17.3 JR Wilcox Community WR8 16 11 11.5 Park Lane PS ER16 13 7 17.8 Tecumseh Sr PS ER14 18 8 2.8 JS Woodsworth Sr PS ER14 19 13 11.5 Park Lawn Jr MS WR6 27 18 7.9 Terraview-Willowfield PS ER15 18 6 15 Parkdale Jr/Sr PS WR7 70 19 9.1 Terry Fox PS ER18 28 12 10.4 K Parkfield Jr S WR4 22 11 16.9 The Elms Jr MS WR1 44 9 3 Karen Kain School of the Arts WR6 9 10 18.7 Parkside ES ER11 11 8 18.1 The Grove Community WR7 5 5 10.2 Keele St Jr PS/Mountview Alt PS Pauline Johnson J PS ER19 17 9 13.2 The Waterfront WR7 10 WR7 24 10 16.1 Pauline Jr PS WR7 13 Thomas L Wells PS ER20 33 16 18.3 Keelesdale Jr PS WR5 15 10 14.5 Pelmo Park PS WR5 21 14 13.3 Thorncliffe Park ES ER16 100 35 10 Kennedy PS ER18 28 13 17.5 Percy Williams Jr PS ER19 20 15 12.2 Three Valleys PS ER15 19 15 9.3 Kensington Community Jr WR9 11 8 14 Perth Ave J PS WR7 18 11 16 Timberbank Jr PS ER19 12 5 16.6 Kew Beach Jr PS ER11 20 10 15.4 Pierre Laporte MS WR2 23 11 16.6 Tom Longboat Jr PS ER20 24 17 12.8 Kimberley Jr PS ER11 18 17 11 Pineway PS ER17 13 Topcliff PS WR2 23 13 13 King Edward Jr/Sr PS WR9 22 25 17.8 Pleasant PS ER17 24 Tumpane PS WR2 24 King George Jr PS WR6 11 12 15 Pleasant View JHS ER18 19 Twentieth St Jr WR6 19 14 18.4 Kingslake PS ER18 25 15 5.9 Poplar Rd Jr PS ER13 14 11 15.8 Tor Dist Elemen - Sect 23 4 12 Kingsview Village JS WR4 50 21 11.3 Port Royal PS ER19 22 16 11 Knob Hill Jr PS ER14 30 9 11.6 Portage Trail Community MS WR5 19 13 13.2 V Portage Trail Community JS WR5 25 18 8.2 Valley Park MS ER16 70 22 10 L Presteign Hghts ES ER11 10 9 15.1 Valleyfield Jr WR4 17 11 15.3 Lamberton PS WR2 25 17 4.3 Princess Margaret Jr PS WR4 22 12 18.2 Victoria Park ES ER11 10 7 14.4 Lambton Kingsway JR MS WR6 35 20 14 Pringdale Gdns Jr PS ER14 Victoria Village PS ER15 18 16 13.6 Lambton Park Community WR5 13 8 7.9 Vradenburg Jr PS ER18 23 10 18.6 Lanor JMS WR6 30 13 15.2 Q Lawrence Hghts MS WR3 21 Queen Alexandra Sr PS WR10 24 8 15.6 W Ledbury Park E & MS WR3 23 13 10.9 Queen Victoria Jr PS WR7 54 Walter Perry J PS ER13 25 12 13.3 Lescon PS ER18 24 8 17.2 Quest Alternative Sr WR19 3 Warden Ave Jr PS ER12 28 7 15.8 Leslieville Jr PS WR10 22 4 12.8 Warren Park Jr PS WR6 12 Lester B Pearson PS ER17 25 22 15.4 R Wedgewood Jr WR6 20 9 12.3 Lillian PS ER17 20 10 13.9 R H McGregor ES WR10 32 23 4.7 Wellesworth Jr WR4 17 8 6 Lord Dufferin Jr/Sr PS WR9 51 9 17.3 Ranchdale PS ER15 17 West Glen Jr WR4 15 10 18.7 Lord Lansdowne Jr/Sr PS WR9 16 9 11.6 Rawlinson Community WR8 30 22 15.7 West Hill PS ER20 18 9 14.2 Lord Roberts Jr PS ER14 27 15 9.3 Regal Rd WR8 25 18 12.7 West Humber JMS WR1 26 Lucy Maude Montgomery Jr/Sr ER20 25 7 13.1 Regent Hghts Jr PS ER12 30 14 13.5 West Preparatory Jr PS WR8 24 9 15.6 Lucy Mccormick Sr WR7 13 10 5.7 Regent Park/Duke of York Jr WR10 46 West Rouge Jr PS ER13 14 Lynngate Jr PS ER19 15 10 11.9 Rene Gordon ES ER15 14 9 7.1 Westmount Jr WR4 18 12 18.4 Lynnwood Hghts Jr PS ER19 10 Rippleton PS ER16 19 9 18.3 Weston Memorial Jr PS WR5 19 11 16.1 Rivercrest Jr WR1 15 5 6.4 Westway Jr WR4 14 10 9.7 M RJ Lang E & MS ER17 31 Westwood MS WR10 26 9 12.8 Macklin PS ER19 32 Robert Service Sr PS ER13 13 12 14.2 Wexford PS ER12 31 13 18.1 Malvern Jr PS ER20 25 15 19.7 Rockcliffe MS WR5 26 11 15.2 White Haven Jr PS ER19 28 14 16.7 Manhattan Park Jr PS ER12 12 7 15.8 Rockford PS WR3 41 19 10.8 Whitney Jr PS WR9 17 9 15.3 Maple Leaf PS WR5 20 14 13.9 Roden Jr PS WR10 30 4 18.3 Wilkinson Jr PS WR10 37 10 13.1 Market Lane Jr/Sr PS WR9 25 16 12.8 Rolph Rd ES ER16 21 15 14.4 Willam Burgess ES WR10 21 16 17.6 Mary Shadd PS ER20 31 14 4.7 Rose Avenue Jr PS WR9 39 26 13 William G Davis Jr PS ER13 15 Maryvale PS ER12 19 15 12.1 Rosedale Jr PS WR9 12 William G Miller Jr PS ER13 24 13 10 Mason Rd Jr PS ER13 24 Roselands Jr PS WR5 13 13 16 William J Mccordic ER11 15 12 11.7 Maurice Cody Jr PS WR8 28 20 10.5 Rosethorn JS WR4 17 15 18.7 William Tredway Jr PS ER14 30 23 16 McKee PS ER17 45 21 16.9 Rouge Valley PS ER13 15 Williamson Rd Jr PS ER11 27 11 12.5 McMurrich Jr PS WR8 28 7 13.3 Roywood PS ER15 15 11 19.1 Willow Park Jr PS ER14 33 12 14.3 Meadowvale PS ER20 15 13 15 Runnymede Jr/Sr PS WR6 50 27 7.7 Willowdale MS ER17 25 14 13.1 Melody Village JS WR1 23 13 7 Ryerson Comm Jr/Sr WR7 24 20 9.3 Wilmington ES WR3 13 12 7.9 Military Trail PS ER20 31 12 10.4 Winchester Jr/Sr PS WR9 28 16 12.8 Mill Valley Jr PSl WR4 14 7 14 S Windfields JHS ER16 20 14 16 Milliken PS ER19 18 10 9.9 Samuel Hearne MS ER12 19 10 11 Winona Dr Sr PS WR8 25 9 10.6 Millwood Jr PS WR4 23 15 10.7 Scarborough Village Alt PS ER14 17 12 18.8 Withrow Ave Jr PS WR10 31 14 11.4 Milne Valley MS ER15 33 19 13 Second St JMS WR6 30 Woburn Jr PS ER14 29 Montrose Jr PS WR9 15 8 16.3 Secord Elementary ER11 40 28 5.9 Woodbine JHS ER18 18 13 14.7 Morrish PS ER20 19 15 10.5 Selwyn ES ER11 14 12 17 Morse Jr PS WR10 14 13 11.5 Seneca Hill PS ER18 18 Y Muirhead PS ER18 12 10 15.8 Seneca School WR4 12 11 13.7 Yorkview PS ER17 31 18 11.9 Muki Baum / Anthony PS Seventh St Jr WR6 11 4 9.3 Yorkwoods PS WR2 23 14 8 Shaughnessy PS ER15 13 4 10 N Sheppard PS WR2 24 4 10 Z Nelson Mandela Park PS WR9 15 15 14.5 Shirley St WR7 14 5 18.6 Zion Hghts JHS ER17 22 13 5.5 Niagara St Jr PS WR7 12 Shoreham PS WR2 23 Norman Cook Jr PS ER12 11 Silver Springs PS ER18 25 19 18.3 Norman Ingram PS ER15 12 6 19.2 Silverthorn Jr PS WR5 30 Total score out of 21. Norseman Jr MS WR6 25 Sir Adam Beck Jr WR6 23 7 16 ***No results as school staff decided not to submit surveys due to North Agincourt Jr PS ER19 22 16 19.9 Sir Alexander Mackenzie Sr ER19 23 20 17.8 circumstances at school, e.g., acting/interim principals, new administra- North Bendale Jr PS ER14 11 5 20 Sir Ernest Macmillan Sr PS ER18 18 tors or ratings of multiple North Bridlewood Jr PS ER18 15 10 13.6 Sir Samuel B Steele Jr PS ER18 23 North Kipling JMS WR1 43 12 13.6 Sloane PS ER15 16 8 13.3

Elementary Teachers of Toronto Elementary Teachers of Toronto Toronto Teacher | June 2013 | 7 “

| T o r o n t o T e a c h e r | Rebranding the Liberals The Cuddly Bunny Speaks

t is somewhat of a relief to find out I asked if they have any other strate- what she called unsavoury connota- like old Maurice did, we figured out that Bill 115 was not sheer stupidity gies to freshen up you image? Cuddles tions.” who were our friends and who were our Ion the part of the Liberals, that they appeared distinctly uncomfortable and At this point he made quotation enemies. Did you know that Haldimand saw it as part of a larger strategy. Swing stared at the garage floor. marks in the air with his fingers around Norfolk went 60% Conservative to to the right by imposing Bill 115 on “Yeah we had a few but they got the words unsavoury connotations. 20% Liberal in the last election? So teachers and soft Conservative voters shot down.” “She said that crack was seen in the we figured we would pay the folks in in the Kitchener-Waterloo by-election Could he expand on what they public’s mind as linked with prostitutes Brantford a bit of a visit. would drop into their lap and they were? and she didn’t want prostitution as part “See the horse racing industry was would have their majority government. “Well you gotta understand this was of the Liberal brand.” negotiating with us for a larger take Unfortunately it didn’t work that way just blue sky thinking, lobbing some Cuddles gave a hollow laugh. from the slot machines to keep their and the Liberals came in third. ideas out there and seeing if anyone Did he have any other ideas? tracks open so they’d be willing to lend However I was curious. Who were would catch them.” Cuddles was about to respond when we the OPP as many horses as we wanted. the tacticians responsible for this blun- I waited a bit. Cuddles took a puff heard the sound of an engine gearing It was genius! I mean, who doesn’t like der? Did they have any other strategies on his panatela and then spoke in a down. Once again I was pulled behind horses? Who wouldn’t want thorough- to pick up votes for the Liberals and rush of words. a support pillar. After the headlights breds associated with the Liberal brand? come up with the last elusive seat to “See we got this deficit problem. raked the walls of the garage and disap- “We’d get the boys out of the OPP give Wynne a majority and the oppor- I mean it’s OK to have your all-day peared, he spoke. cruisers, up on horseback, give them tunity to close down the parliamentary Kindergartens, lower class sizes and “Well yeah, I got to thinking of, some sabres and set them loose on the inquiry into the gas plants fiasco? increased graduation rates but someone what’s his name, that Premier of Que- downtown. Picture it, a squad of sword A contact at Queen’s Park came has to pick up the tab for all that. And bec back in the forties and fifties.” wielding cops on horseback galloping up with someone deep in the Liberal we thought who better than the kid- “Maurice Duplessis of the Union down Main Street and into the Home campaign team. Needless to say, he did dies? I mean, they’re getting all of the Nationale,” I ventured. Depot. They’d empty the bank vaults, not want to go by his real name but by benefit of it, right? “Yeah that’s him Maurice Duples- the cash registers, pick up any loose his alias, ‘Cuddly Bunny.’ “What we figured we would do is sis. See back then you could tell if you valuables and then torch the place.” We met at the underground parking have the teachers sell crack cocaine were in a Liberal riding or a Union “Set fire to Brantford! Isn’t that a bit lot at Queen’s Park. Cuddly Bunny, or to the kids. The teachers are already Nationale riding by the kind of road extreme?” Cuddles spat on the pave- Cuddles as he is sometimes known, picking up money for field trips, pizza you were driving on. You’d be zipping ment. turned out to be a fleshy man in his late lunches and Scholastic book sales, so it along on some nice, fresh asphalt and “You’re missing the big picture. fifties, early sixties, sporting a Harry would be no skin off their noses. then Bam! you’re skittering from side Think of how it would stimulate the Rosen three piece suit, and puffing on “You’ve got your captive audience to side down a gravel road. economy! After all, these businesses are an twelve inch cigar. of ready consumers and have you seen “Old Maurice knew how to reward going to have to be rebuilt, construction Occasionally a car could be heard the profit margins on crack? Astro- his supporters and punish his enemies. money would pour into the town giv- coming down the parking garage ramp nomical! We would have cut the deficit You want to vote Liberal, go ahead, it’s ing the provincial GDP a goose. Don’t or driving up towards the exit. When in half by the first year. Plus you’ve got a free country. But don’t expect to see forget, every bag of cement and every this happened, Cuddles grabbed me your childhood obesity problem. Give any new roads, schools or hospitals in board would pay the HST. And don’t by the bicep and hauled me into the the kids a crack pipe instead of a snack your town if you do. What we decided forget the cash and other items the OPP shadows until it passed by. He sweated before recess and zoom, off they’d to do was take a page from old Maurice stuffed into their saddle bags. When profusely throughout the entire inter- go careening around the schoolyard. but go him one better.” you combine the OPP plunder with the view. They’d be running flat out for the Cuddles paused to take a pull on his increase in tax revenue we would make I wanted to know what their think- whole fifteen minutes and the pounds cigar. out like bandits.” ing was on imposing Bill 115. Cuddles would just melt away! “Again this whole business with “There was some resistance to your winced and then spoke. “So what you have here is what you the deficit was busting our chops. It idea?” Cuddles shrugged and paused “Yeah, what a cat’s hairball that call a win-win situation. Lower deficit, made us look as though we couldn’t be before responding. turned into. See we figured, throw skinnier kids. Mind you, you could trusted to run a candy store let alone a “Well she liked the horses.” the teachers to the Conservatives in have a bit of a problem with them province. We had to whack that sucker There was another pause. Kitchener, throw them a bit of red meat, kids being a bit cranky before the next down or Tim Hudak would eat our “Naw, she didn’t like it at all. Kept show that we could be as hard nosed as recess.” lunch at the next election. quibbling about how she didn’t want Mike Harris, give the Liberal brand a “But the Premier didn’t go for it?” “So we got out a map that showed the image of sabre wielding policemen bit of cojones. I mean, this Premier Dad “Naw, she said crack cocaine had the results from the last election and silhouetted against burning buildings business is OK with the ladies, they go associated with the Liberal brand. for this Sensitive-New-Age-Guy type “Now you got to agree what we’re of thing. talking here is a Real Man image. I “But do you want to be in the rec mean, you wouldn’t find a wimp swing- room, the game on a 48 inch flat screen ing three feet of tempered steel over with some wuss in a cardigan watch- his head while the women and children ing Colton Orr beating on one of the ran for cover. But no, we can stick it to Bruins? Naw, you want a man’s man, teachers but we’re not allowed to do it some guy who even if he can’t frame a to civilians.” house by himself, can at least drive in a Cuddles had finished his cigar and nail without leaving hammer marks. was looking up and down the car ramp. “The Kitchener-Waterloo by-elec- It was obvious our interview was at an tion was the perfect situation to show end. Just before leaving, I asked if there we were as capable of Dumb Guy ideas was anything else in the works. He as Tim Hudak.” broke into a smile then put a finger over So Bill 115 was an attempt at re- his lips. branding the Liberal Party? “Well I can’t go into any details. “Sure. You have to refresh your We’re still just in early days.” image from time to time. That’s why He looked around before speaking. GM and Ford change advertising agen- “What do you think of monster cies, rebrand their products and pull trucks?” in new buyers. Why else do you think political parties dump their leaders? It’s like switching from Ogilvie Mather to McCann Erickson. We had become the Dodge Caravan of politics and we wanted to inject a bit of Hummer into it.”

8 | Toronto Teacher | June 2013 Elementary Teachers of Toronto | T oo rr oo nn t o T e a c h e r | Reading with the Angels

by Bruce Stodart

ou would think I was giving away tickets to the Raptors. “Who wants to read with theY Reading Angels?” The hands shoot up, the kids squirm in their seats. “Me Mr Stodart! Pick me! I haven’t read with them for a long time!” Not willing to prolong the agony, I make my choice. There is a collective sigh of disappointment as the lucky chosen one goes to a book bin to select some books to take with them. Then they march down the hall to the library or staffroom where a bubbe awaits them. The Reading Angels program has been in operation, in one incarnation or another, for the past seven years. One half or the participants are the students at the school, the other half elders from the Terraces residence at the Baycrest Geriatric Centre. The Reading Angels came about through a chance meeting I had with Sean Fremeth, a social worker at Baycrest. He had a number of clients who not only loved kids but wanted to continue to give back to the com- munity. We at the school had children who needed a bit of a boost, a bit of encouragement with their reading. It truly was a match made in heaven. At the time we were fortunate to have Mary Cole as our Literacy Coordinator and it was she who initi- substituted. Like clockwork, the building up a child’s self esteem was. She responded by asking how ated the program. Before the Angels Angels arrive by shuttle bus between When asked if they enjoy reading old the child was. “Nine,” replied the began to read with the kids she ran a 10:15 and 10:30 on Fridays. They with their Angel, the Kindergarten child. “Well,” said Kitty, “If you add mini workshop on reading strategies congregate in the staffroom while I children are emphatically positive. Al- 91 to your age, that is how old I am.” and the different cuing systems. As go to the Kindergarten class to collect though they have some difficulty ex- She was tickled by the dumbfounded the Angels were in their eighties and their first clients. Once Angels and pressing why this is the case, most of expression on the child’s face after nineties, they grew up in a system readers are together in the staffroom, the responses are, “She is nice.” They they did the Math. Of course, as Jennie that emphasized ‘sounding out’ words they move to their appointed place. thrive under the undivided attention of noted, she is sensitive to the questions and Mary wanted to ensure that they When the child has finished reading, an important grownup for the half hour she poses to the children. She avoids would encourage the children to use they go to the office. Anna pages the with them. The older children are just asking questions based on the suppo- the other systems as well. classroom of the next child on the as positive but more reflective. It is sition that there is both a mother and The school has a book room filled Angel’s list and asks that this child go not just reading that takes place when father at home. This does not prevent with leveled books. Mary wanted to to read with their Angel. they get together with their Angel. One the children themselves posing some ensure that each child had a supply A one hour Reading Angel session Grade 5 girl admitted that she received interesting questions of their own. of books appropriate for their reading has two parts. For the first twenty advice about hair and nail polish from When Helen said to one of her charges level. These were placed in baskets minutes or so, the Reading Angels her Angel. Another said she knew her that they looked like her granddaughter that had the particular child’s name read aloud to the little ones. The em- Angel cared about her. When asked because she was missing her two front on it. These baskets were then put in phasis is on concepts of print, locat- why she knew this it was because her teeth as well, the little girl wanted to the place to which each Angel was ing individual words and sounds and Angel always asked her friend, who know if the granddaughter was a half assigned: the library, the computer lab, most importantly that reading is fun. read after her, when the girl was away. or a quarter. Helen was perplexed until the bookroom, the library office and Each Angel has a bin of colourful and She knew her Angel was concerned she realized the child, being of mixed the staffroom. engaging picture books the child can about what was happening with her. race, was asking if her grandchild was This worked well enough when choose from. So what do the Angels get out of a quarter or half white. “Well, dear, I Mary, and later myself as librar- In the second half, the older kids it? One thing that came up again and suppose she looks like me.” was her ian, had the time to monitor how the come with books they are currently again in my conversations with them gentle response. Angels and children were progress- reading. The Angels listen to the child was the intergenerational connection. Our school is blessed by its close ing and when it was time to pick up read, discuss unknown words, some- As Helen put it, we live in a “fraction- proximity to one of Canada’s premier another child. However as Prep began times with the help of a dictionary, alized” society in which the elderly geriatric facility and retirement homes. to consume more and more of my and what is happening in the plot. I tend to live together, separated from Consequently it is comparatively easy time, it was not possible for me to be am constantly amazed by two things. the very young. While they may have for our Angels to make their way to the available each time the Angels arrived First that the Angels are able to intuit grandkids, frequently they live in other school. Nonetheless there are retire- and another system was devised. where the child needs help and ways cities. ment homes peppered throughout the There is a master list of the Read- of addressing it. The second is how Katie’s live in Vancouver and Vic- city containing any number of elders ing Angels, where they will be our most difficult kids are transformed toria. Similarly many of the children who would love to give back to the working and the children they will during their session with their Read- do not have grandparents close at community, spend some time with the be seeing. In the morning, I consult ing Angel. Children who can be defi- hand and the Reading Angels program children and reestablish that special with Anna the secretary and determine ant and challenging in the classroom promotes that almost magical connec- bond that exists between the old and which students are here and who are become attentive and calm when they tion that exists between the very old the young. away. The ones who are absent are are with their Angel. As Elizabeth and the very young. Kitty was asked stroked off the list and other children noted, a lot of the work they do is by one of the children how old she

Elementary Teachers of Toronto Elementary Teachers of Toronto Toronto Teacher | June 2013 | 9 | T o r o n t o T e a c h e r | EDITORIAL Into the Wild

e are fortunate to have a public the snails and run with outstretched Wpark beside our school and even arms after the squealing girls but it more blessed that there is a small sliver doesn’t last long. of land around the western periphery Eventually curiosity overcomes one that the city let go wild. That experi- of the girls, she crouches down and ment began two or three decades ago stretches out a tentative hand. Soon she and already the saplings and bushes has a snail of her own and all the other that established themselves there have girls are combing the branches and thrived into substantial maples and leaves of the bushes for their very own beeches, and shrubs higher than I can snail. reach above my head. The children Of course the children want to take have christened it ‘The Wild Area’ and their snail home but I establish that the every couple of weeks I take my small Wild Area is already their snail’s home. charges across the grass and dandeli- If I am feeling particularly didactic, I ons that forms the city park proper to will use the term ‘habitat’ repeatedly. explore it. But mostly I try to communicate the We have a routine established for sanctity of all life and how something our visits. Run, for the kids really do so seemingly insignificant as a snail need to run, to the first set of benches. has a right to its own. Run to the second set of benches and They put their snails back on the catch your breath. Walk over towards shrub before we move on. I don’t sup- the Wild Area and sit down on the pose this plucking and close examina- across the forest floor, the height of children gathered round I explained that grass before it. tion does the snail much harm, but it trees above us but it does seem quieter this was someone’s bed and that they Look for the changes that occurred must be a disorienting nuisance for the there and the kids are too. were not to disturb it. There was disbe- since we were last here. Are there more poor things. Before the trees leaf out, there are lief and confusion on their faces at first, leaves on the trees? Is the path into it As a child, my home was on the small star shaped flowers of yellow after all I was known to play pranks becoming narrower, more overgrown banks of the Don River and red wing on the ground but at this time of year on them but the expression on my face as the thistles, quackgrass and violets black birds were as thick as sparrows. they have mostly gone to seed. There let them know I was deadly serious. I reestablish themselves after their winter I had always associated them with is a bush of exquisite pink flowers but explained to the best of my ability what dormancy? What can you hear above cattails and slowly moving water. But little colour elsewhere. Come summer, homelessness was, its causes and con- the thrumming of the Allen Express- it’s a curious thing. There are throngs purple and white phlox will spring up sequences. But I could not match the way? Is that a new bird call? of them in the Wild Area as the shrubs in the sunny patches and in September eloquence of that sleeping bag and sheet Spring is a glorious time in the Wild offer perfect nesting sites for their the little ones will be head high with of cardboard under the sumacs. Area. As we walk along the edge there broods. flowers. We check the trees and bushes Quite a year it’s been. Mass meet- are shrubs and bushes, the names of In early May, the males establish for seeds and snails. We throw maple ings and Samba led protests. Shoes full which I do not know, that send forth their territory and try to chase off any keys in the air to watch them helicopter of slush outside Maple Leaf Gardens cascades of pink and white or lemony other male who might try to invade it. down to the ground. and my female colleagues bundling me yellow flowers. The pink and white Frequently there will be a flash of red In late April, when the ground is into borrowed parka when on the picket blossoms, once pollinated, lose their and yellow against jet black as two or brown with dead and dormant plant line. Sitting down at a Second Cup with petals and form a fruit, a sort of choke- three of them wheel through the trees life, I have the children join hands the soon to be Premier and confronting cherry that the birds enjoy but are bitter and across the sky. and walk six across a path that opens her on the implications of Bill 115 and to the taste. As we patrol the edge of the Wild up to the park. We repeat this process getting up on my hind legs at stewards’ After the lemony yellow blossoms Area, we can hear the trilling of a male each time we come to the Wild Area meetings to question our negotiators. drop to the ground a seedpod, not red wing blackbird before we see his until the thistles have thrust up and Shouting profanities at Laurel Broten’s unlike a miniature snow pea, forms red and yellow shoulder patches. Even will scratch the bare legs of any child voice coming out of my car radio and and the children pry them apart and the Grade 1s are beginning to distin- in shorts or a sundress. By the end of standing on the school steps, singing examine the contents with their friends. guish by song and sight the difference June, the pathway is so thick with waist “We’re Going to Roll the Union On” I suppose I should be more perspica- between them other birds. As we make high vegetation that the thought that we with Elizabeth, a 90 year old Reading cious as a teacher, go to the library and our way to the path into the Wild Area, could at one time walk through unop- Angel. pick up a book on shrubs native to the there are fingers jabbed in the air and posed has the quality of a half remem- But life goes on and teaching goes Carolinian Forest but for myself I pre- cries of ‘Red wing blackbird!’ bered dream. on. There may be no extra-curricular fer to keep my own private names for A high wire mesh fence runs paral- One time I decided to go exploring a activities but there are worms for the them, the Lemony Pea Shrub, the Wild lel to the path that runs through the little further off the path with the Grade classroom composter, caterpillars to Apple Bush. Wild Area. It also cordons off the Wild 3s. Of course some of the boys wanted turn into butterflies, soils to test and For some inexplicable reason, this Area from the highway ramp below to head off ahead of us but as soon beans to germinate. Aside from these is fertile ground for snails, an ideal that leads from Yorkdale to the East- as I saw their backs heading into the more conspicuous activities are those animal, if you think about it, for small bound 401. I can’t imagine how it is bushes I called out to them. But they commonplace epiphanies, those ‘Ah children. Snails are anything but possible for it to be quieter in the Wild had already stopped before a sheet of ha!’ moments when a concept or skill speedy, are easy to catch, have a nice Area than the park with the traffic ac- cardboard and a sleeping bag. that seemed so far beyond a child’s hard shell to hold onto and a satisfying- celerating onto the collector lanes but An empty water bottle and a couple grasp is captured. The small victories ly slimy underside. For the first couple it always seems that way. Perhaps it is of potato chip bag wrappers were that grace our year as teachers. No of visits the boys, being boys, pick up the play of dappled light and shadow strewn on the ground. As the rest of the doubt you have had your share, a coun- terweight to the turbulent times we’ve lived through. I am retiring at school’s end. It The opinions and views expressed in DAVID BANERJEE Toronto Teacher is the membership should be high summer, that last week Toronto Teacher MONTROSE PUBLIC SCHOOL newspaper. It is a free press, and any of school. If I don’t suggest it myself, are those of the writers, or those interviewed, teacher in the Toronto District School Board Anna Jessup the kids no doubt will. As they line up, and are not necessarily those of the Editorial may write for Toronto Teacher. Board, or the Elementary Teachers of Every teacher’s opinion is important, squirming with excitement, I’ll buzz DEL MILBRANDT Toronto. and we encourage your input. Anna in the office and let her know EDITOR EMERITUS we’re off. We’ll walk across the park- We invite your contributions. It’s your paper. Write for it! Robert Millard Please send ideas/submissions, letters, Have a lesson plan, educational ing lot to the edge of the park. Then articles, photos, graphics, cartoons, etc. commentary, book review, humour, I’ll shout “Run!” and watch my kids ELLEN PETERS to any of the Editorial Board or a great idea you’d like to WESTWAY JUNIOR SCHOOL bounding through the dandelions to the members listed here. contribute to the Toronto Teacher? first benches. The Wild Area, deep and BRUCE STODART Send your contributions DESIGN / ROSE DI ZIO BAYCREST PUBLIC SCHOOL for our next issue to dark and cool awaits. PRODUCTION / CENTURY GRAPHICS, TORONTO [email protected] Toronto Teacher Toronto

10 | Toronto Teacher | June 2013 Elementary Teachers of Toronto || TT oo rr oo nn tt oo TT ee aa cc hh ee rr || EDUCATION UPDATE

California looks to question, the Post said. Marco Salas, South Korea and Finland are among you don’t have textbooks, ultimately Ontario schools’ an eighth-grader at the Forest Hills top performers in both results and literacy and numeracy proficiency reformer for guidance middle school, was quoted as saying: equity. drops, and that is eventually reflected For the root beer, they show you a The UK is successful in results, but in examination results.” waitress cleaning a table and the root weaker in fairness. Michael Fullan may be coming soon Mr Coltart said the 82% failure beer fell on the floor and she forgets to This OECD study compares the to a school district in California. rate was an improvement on previous clean it up. Underneath, they gave you reading skills of teenagers against the The man credited with transform- years. the definition that it is a soda and then levels of social equity. ing the Canadian province of Ontario “In February 2009, the pass rate was the trademark. The Programme for International into one of the world’s most effective 14.4%. It’s now 18.4%,” he said. “We The new Common Core-aligned Student Assessment (Pisa) tests pub- school systems is ready to help Cali- are improving it but there’s still a lot of tests were originally trumpeted as lished by the OECD show a strong fornia do the same. Fullan, though, work to be done.” a major improvement over earlier link between social disadvantage and would lead the state in a sharply dif- The coalition government is due to exams in their ability to assess student low achievement in school. ferent direction from the forced march end later this year when elections are learning, but they haven’t been the “On average across OECD coun- that federal officials in Washington, held. ‘game-changer’ US Education Secre- tries, disadvantaged students are twice DC have led over the past decade. tary Arne Duncan had promised. as likely to be among the poorest “I want California to become an Mexico union head performers in reading compared to alternative model to No Child Left Gordillo charged with advantaged students,” says the report, Behind; that would be a great thing ‘Saudization’ drive leads organized crime based on an analysis of tests taken in to aspire to,” Fullan said last month to school closures 2009. during an interview in Sacramento. Union leader Elba Esther Gordillo, But this study says there is nothing Instead of improvement through the A number of schools in Saudi Arabia considered Mexico’s most powerful inevitable about this connection be- “negative drivers” of standardized have been closed this week as expatri- woman, has been charged with fraud tween social background and achieve- testing and quick school turnarounds, ate teachers stay away in fear of being and organized crime. ment. he would shift the focus to improv- rounded up and deported. Ms Gordillo, who runs the 1.5 mil- ing instruction through “motivational Saudi and expatriate parents have lion-member Mexican teachers’ union collaboration” between teachers and complained that private schools in the High Results, Highly Equitable (SNTE), was arrested on suspicion of administrators. main cities of Riyadh and Jeddah have Shanghai, Hong Kong, Finland, embezzling $200m. California is full of education lead- been unable to teach their children. South Korea, Canada, Japan, Iceland, She reportedly spent millions at a ers eager to listen to, if not act on, his The reason the teachers are staying Estonia, Netherlands, Norway, US department store, on plastic sur- advice on systemic reform. away is that they believe they fall foul Liechtenstein, Taiwan, Italy, Ireland gery, property and a private plane. During his swing through Sacra- of changes in Saudi labour law aimed Source: OECD. School systems with above Her arrest came a day after the en- mento in April, Fullan: at reducing the country’s decades-long average results in reading and higher equity actment of major educational reforms. levels dependence on expatriate workers. The reforms are designed to change • Led a four-hour discussion for At the top of the international With most of the teachers coming a union-dominated system in which about 100 administrators and employ- spectrum, Shanghai, Finland, South from abroad, the schools have found teaching positions could be sold or ees at the State Department of Educa- Korea, Canada, Japan, Hong Kong and themselves without staff as employees inherited. tion on changing their mission from the Netherlands are among a select remain at home in order to evade the Under the changes, teachers will monitoring districts’ program compli- group of school systems with very net of arrests and deportations. Many have to undergo regular assessments, ance to helping to build up districts’ high results and high levels of fairness, small businesses have also reportedly something that has previously never strengths; where pupils can succeed regardless of been staying shut for the same reason. taken place inside Mexico’s primary • Conducted an all-day seminar for background. 20 superintendents at the Superinten- There have been protests outside and secondary schools. dents Executive Leadership Forum, the Saudi embassy across the border Critics say the changes could signal run by the UC Davis School of Educa- in Yemen against the new measures as Zimbabwe’s the start of the privatization of educa- tion, on how the district office can thousands of Yemeni workers in Saudi David Coltart: 18% pass tion in Mexico. support classroom-based innovation; Arabia are arrested and deported. rate is progress • Dined with superintendents of the Other nationalities who make up UN envoy condemns nine districts that have applied for a Saudi Arabia’s eight-million strong Zimbabwe’s education minister has murder of Pakistan joint waiver from the No Child Left foreign workforce have also expressed deplored the fact that nearly 82% of school teacher Behind law; their application promises their anxiety about losing their liveli- students have failed their basic school to incorporate some of the methods hoods. leavers’ exams, the Ordinary Level. UN Special Envoy for Global Educa- that Fullan instituted in Ontario. Saudi labour laws now demand that But David Coltart told the BBC this tion Gordon Brown has condemned the all businesses have a certain number was an improvement on 2009, when shooting of a female teacher in Paki- New standardized tests of Saudi employees. If they do not, only 14% passed and blamed a decade stan on Tuesday as a ‘Malala-style’ feature plugs for they face fines. of ‘chaos’. incident. commercial products New labour laws have also tight- His Movement for Democratic Shahnaz Bibi was shot dead by two ened the requirement that foreign Change (MDC) joined President Rob- motorbike riders as she disembarked Talk about corporate-based school workers should not be employed by ert Mugabe’s government in 2009 to from a passenger van near the school reform. New high-stakes standardized anyone but their original sponsors. end Zimbabwe’s political and eco- where she taught in the Khyber tribal tests aligned with the Common Core This potentially affects millions of nomic crisis. Zimbabwe used to have region. State Standards are featuring plugs for expatriates. one of the best education systems in The Taliban attempted to kill commercial products. And the compa- In the education sector, foreign Africa. schoolgirl Malala Yousafzai in Octo- nies didn’t have to pay a penny. teachers often work for more than one The results reflect the political and ber. Yes, New York state students who school, which could now put them at economic decline the country has The teenage campaigner for girls’ this past week took Pearson-designed risk. witnessed over the past decade, cor- education survived being shot in the exams were just treated to plugs for respondents say. head by gunmen in Swat - a bullet was LEGO, Mug Root Beer and more UK weak in school Last month, Finance Minister Ten- later removed from her skull by sur- products from at least half a dozen fairness rankings dai Biti said the government only had geons. The Taliban said they targeted companies, according to the New York $217 (£138) in its public account after her for ‘promoting secularism.’ Post. The UK is below average in an inter- paying civil servants. In a statement Mr Brown said that One teacher who administered the national comparison of social mobility Mr Coltart told the BBC’s Focus on she fought for girls’ education in Paki- test was quoted as saying: within school systems. Africa program that the results were stan and that he had written to Presi- I’ve been giving this test for eight The Organization for Economic sobering. “I’m afraid this was inevi- dent Zardari calling for heightened years and have never seen the test Co-operation and Development table. There’s been so much chaos in security measures to protect girls and drop trademarked names in passages (OECD) produces rankings of school Zimbabwe’s education system in the teachers going to school. — let alone note the trademark at the performance - but it has now pub- last decade that it was inevitable that bottom of the page. lished an analysis of fair opportunities children’s education would be affected Students said the product plugs for pupils. in this way.” sometimes had nothing to do with the It shows that Shanghai in China, “If you don’t have teachers, if

Elementary Teachers of Toronto Elementary Teachers of Toronto Toronto Teacher | June 2013 | 11 | T o r o n t o T e a c h e r | Building A Dream aron Rothschild was once rooms. A pump will draw water asked whether he found it from a well and allow indoor Bpeculiar to grow up in what plumbing and spare the kids the was essentially a palace, surround- unsanitary and humiliating neces- ed by a legion of servants including sity of using an outhouse. one whose sole job was to shine the As it will be the community’s family’s shoes. He replied that as a sole building with power and light, child you simply take what is given it will become the community’s to you, that you assume that the centre. More than that, Kwabena way you live is the way everyone sees the Senchi school as a model else lives. for neighbouring communities to So too is it for the children of construct new schools of their own. Senchi, a small village in Ghana. When asked when he thinks the However their lives are distinctly school will be finished, Kwabena different from the Rothschild’s. laughs. “If money was not the Senchi is lacking what we would issue, it would be done tomorrow. consider essential amenities; no If we are lucky, it could be 2015.” electricity, no indoor plumbing or But money is the issue. Although running water and a school build- we in Canada would be shocked to ing that is literally falling down. see how much can be accomplished Still, on one level, life is good in Ghana with a small sum of for the kids who live there. Although money, the photo-voltaic panels, too poor to own shoes, let alone a the classroom furniture, the doors soccer ball, they are endlessly inven- er when he returned to Senchi in 2009 taught in what Kwabena describes as a and windows have to be purchased. tive, creating games with whatever for a visit after decades long absence, ‘chicken coop.’ Given Kwabena’s drive and energy, they have at hand. And in soccer-mad both he and the two colleagues ac- This move occurred in 2010 and the school will be built but the ques- Ghana, anything will do as a soccer companying him were appalled at what ever since he has been raising funds tion is when. It must seem tantalizingly ball, a jute bag wrapped in tape, even they saw. and setting up the mechanisms to close for the children who trudge by the an orange. Cracks ran up the walls calling into ensure that the school is constructed on construction site to their overcrowded The saying, “It takes a village to question the safety of the building. In time and on budget. makeshift classrooms. They know they raise a child.” certainly applies there. If several places the roof was caved in. Although Ghana is the third least must wait but wonder for how much you are getting into mischief, someone When he asked the kids what they did corrupt country in all of Africa, ac- longer. is bound to see you and report you to when it rained, and Ghana does have cording to Transparency International, This has been a year to sour the soul. your parents. If the teacher sees you a rainy season, the kids replied, “Well, problems remain. Kwabena set in place The imposed contract, the suspension wandering around after 8pm, he will when it rains we go home.” a system whereby the work by the of our basic civil rights, the outright want to know why you aren’t in bed The people of the village lacked the contractor on the ground receives spot lies and misrepresentations from our getting enough sleep for school tomor- necessary funds to perform the main- checks from a supervisor in the neigh- provincial government has resulted in row. Education is a serious business in tenance on the buildings, let alone the bouring large town of Kumasi who desperately low morale and a justifiably Senchi despite the obstacles in place. repairs. Senchi is a long way from the would in turn be subject to oversight crabbed, cynical attitude. Let’s face it, ETT member Kwabena Frimpong capital, Accra and the old saying, “Out from a supervisor in Accra. Moreover, there’s not been a lot of joy and light. certainly knows this to be true. Born of sight, out of mind.” applied in this most of the work is done during the What participating in the Senchi School and brought up in Senchi, he attended case. summer when Kwabena can be on site Project provides is the opportunity to school. Although the teachers used Some people would simply throw himself. tap into the generosity and sense of so- corporal punishment to keep order in their hands in the air and walk away. It’s been three years and while cial justice all of us as teachers possess. classes that could have as many as 68 Not Kwabena. The children needed progress has been slow, particularly for The Senchi School Project has a students in them, he recalls them as a new school and he would see that the children of the village, progress has website: www.senchischoolproject. being diligent and fair. Indeed it was they got one. There were two school been made. The foundation for the new ca. There you can view photographs the initiative of one of his teachers that buildings in Senchi and the second one building was laid and the floor in- of the dilapidated old school, the new raised enough money to send him to was not quite as derelict as the other. stalled. Interior and exterior walls have school rising, the children of Senchi secondary school and eventually al- All of the children were moved into risen, topped by the roof trusses and and find out how you can be a part of lowed him to earn a teacher’s certifi- this second building while the first one joists that await the galvanized sheet- this remarkable venture. cate that brought him to Canada. was demolished. There are six classes ing. Once the roof is on they will need Kwabena himself can be reached at: When Kwabena was a child, the ranging in size from 59 to 62 children doors, windows, chalkboards, chairs [email protected]. In classrooms were crowded but the in this building. The exception is the and desks. the past he has made thought provoking building itself was serviceable. Howev- kindergarten where 68 children are When complete the school will presentations at schools, presentations have six classrooms, a library, a that have raised questions in the stu- computer dents’ minds as to what responsibilities lab, storage areas, a washroom they have as global citizens. and a staff common room. Marshall McLuhan spoke of the Kwabena could stop there ‘Global Village.’ Increasingly the world but he has bigger dreams. Even has become one. If it is true that it does during the rainy season, there are take a village to raise a child, as mem- hours of sunshine during the day. bers of this Global Village, through the In the dry season sunlight pours Senchi School Project, we have the out of the sky. opportunity to not only raise a school in When the walls were built, Senchi but help raise the children who wiring was installed. What he live there as well. envisions are photo-voltaic panels on the school’s roof that will generate electricity for the computer labs and the class

TORONTO TEACHER. 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 | June 2013 Elementary Teachers of Toronto