Voices

Enforcement follows bargaining as summer follows spring.

Most people like to think they have a great sense of humour, and pride themselves  on making others laugh. As teachers, we’re no exception.  It’s delightful when  we  can  make  students smile despite themselves. Good cheer is a good teaching tool.

What do equity and inclusion mean to you? Considerthree perspectives

Sherry Ramrattan Smith

Unions  work  to  create  a  better future for their members.

Does  a  parent who  is  blind  have  the right to bring a  guide dog into school on  “meet  the  teacher” night, even  if the  teacher is  allergic to  dogs? If  an elevator will be closed for maintenance, must the board inform potential users?

Elementary teachers are professionals. They understand how  best  to  organize their  time and   commitments  to  meet  the  educational needs of their students.

As you read this I trust you will be settled into the new school year. For educators September is a month of  change and adjustment, of setting goals, and establishing a classroom routine. By now you and your students are moving forward, working to make your goals a reality.

ETFO is an organization made up of  73,000 potential leaders. Most of our members chose education as a career because they wanted to lead and  support others, to help them grow and  achieve. Without that  impulse it’s unlikely you would have wanted to  become a teacher in the first place.

Early in my teaching career I came to understand the extent to which public education is intricately entwined with politics.