Summer 2006 - The member magazine of the Elementary Teachers

FROM THE PRESIDENTCollege governance must be truly democraticPresident Noble on thepicket line with members ofthe Near North OccasionalTeacher Local.EMILY NOBLEPresident, ETFOOur new education minister Sandra Pupatellois someone I’ve had the honour of workingwith in the past. At her invitation ETFO becamea sponsor of Finding Common Ground, aconference on domestic violence that was anotherstep in educating the public and the professionalcommunity about domestic violence.I have had several occasions to meet with theMinister since she took office and I am lookingforward to continuing the positive relationshipwe forged with the former minister, GerardKennedy. Kennedy spearheaded the revivalof public education in Ontario creating anatmosphere where public education and teachersbegan once more to be appreciated and valued.We wish him well in his quest to become leaderof the federal Liberal party.Nevertheless, despite the positive relationshipswe have forged there are challenges to beaddressed. One of those challenges is Bill 78, theeducation omnibus bill.There are provisions in the Bill that wesupport: the increase in professional activitydays and the new teacher induction program aretwo examples. But there are also provisions thatcause us serious concern.A major issue is that Bill 78 shifts a numberof aspects of education policy from statutory toregulatory control. The government’s rationaleis to provide flexibility with a greater ability torespond to issues quickly. We are concernedwith the loss of accountability and transparencythat goes hand in hand with this kind of shift.If this Bill passes without amendment, changesin important working and learning conditions– such as class size and professional activitydays – can be put in place without debatein the legislature. The flexibility it gives thisgovernment can be used by future governmentsthat do not share a commitment to publiceducation and want to erode the improvementsthat have been achieved.The reforms to the Ontario College of Teachersto make it a truly self-governing body are anotherconcern. As Hilda Watkins points out in hercolumn (page 36) this was a Liberal promise priorto the 2003 election. She enumerates a number ofthe problems the Bill creates. On the positive side,the Bill increases the number of elected memberson the governing council by six, thus givingteachers a one vote majority. Other proposals inthe Bill undermine this improvement.The government proposes to exclude a significantportion of College members. This includesoccasional teachers who don’t work a minimumof 20 days in the year prior to the election andteachers on leaves – such as maternity leave or leaveto work as members of teacher federation locals.Local federation leaders are particularly targeted.The implication is that they will not serve in thepublic interest, as governing council members aremandated to do. There is no evidence to supportthis notion and it is offensive to our members.ETFO will be working hard to ensure that theCollege is governed by a truly democratic bodyrepresenting the teaching profession. (For details,see page 40.)Despite these challenges we have had an interestingand fruitful year. ETFO made significantcontributions to education here at home, nationallyand internationally. Winston Carter outlinessome of those in his column (page 37). I particularlywant to take this opportunity to recognizeyour provincial Executive who join me in supportinginitiatives to improve education here andabroad, and those members who will take thespirit of ETFO excellence to their colleagues indeveloping countries this summer.We have much to be proud of. We bargain toprotect your wages and working conditions, but wealso care about your rights as citizens of the world.Enjoy your summer!4 etfo voice SUMMER 2006