Building on Our Strength: A New School Year of Advocacy and Solidarity
The start of the school year is a moment to reflect on our core values as an organization. ETFO is unwavering in our commitment to equity, to providing safe and inclusive learning environments for all students and to advocating fiercely for the supports, resources and working conditions that make Ontario public schools exceptional.
To lay the groundwork for bargaining in 2026, ETFO has launched a powerful, province-wide campaign centred on the fundamental issue of class size. We know unequivocally that smaller classes are a cornerstone of equitable education. They allow for individualized attention, stronger student-educator relationships and inclusive practices that benefit every child. They are critical to ensuring that educators have the working conditions to allow them to do their very best for every student. To ignore class size is to ignore the glaring inequities within our public education system.
Our smaller classes, BIG DIFFERENCE campaign explicitly highlights how overcrowded classrooms exacerbate existing issues, undermining students and educators. We are fighting for a system in which every student, regardless of their background, identity, or learning needs, has an equal opportunity to succeed. This means advocating for the resources that allow for targeted interventions, culturally responsive pedagogy and the time to build the profound connections that foster a true sense of belonging and well-being.
Our campaign is designed to make an impact in every corner of the province. You will see our message on television screens, hear it on radio stations and encounter it on digital platforms and social media. Out-of-home advertising, from billboards to transit shelters, will ensure this critical conversation reaches parents and community members wherever they are.
This approach is not just about raising awareness; it’s about mobilizing a broad coalition of support to demand what is right for our students and for the dedicated professionals who teach them every day. This is a collective effort, and every member has a role to play in sharing this message.
How can you help? Make sure that you sign up to the campaign at BuildingBetterSchools.ca. Keep on top of bargaining news by subscribing to the bargaining e-newsletter through etfocb.ca. Spread the word about what we’re fighting for, and why.
Our parallel commitment is to you, our members. As you head into the new school year, I encourage you to explore the many programs, resources and supports that are available to you through both your local and the provincial office. ETFO provincial runs dozens of programs every year that are open to our members and accessible at etfo.ca. From workshops on anti-oppressive pedagogy, social justice and leadership training to health and safety, Indigenous education and collective bargaining, ETFO offers a comprehensive range of programs designed to support your professional growth, enhance your well-being and empower your advocacy. We also offer curriculum and professional resources along with direct support to members through our Professional Relations Services department.
I invite you to get involved in your union. Consider putting your name forward for a role as a school steward or on your local committees, where you can directly support colleagues and shape the direction of our collective work. You can also participate in provincial committees, professional learning opportunities or attend member mobilization events to connect with a powerful network of educators.
The new school year is a fresh start filled with possibility. Let’s work together to support our students and one another. There are so many opportunities to get involved and lean into your union. Together, through our advocacy in bargaining and our dedication in classrooms, we will continue to build a more just and equitable education system for all.
Wishing you the best in the new school year.
– Sharon O’Halloran
