From the Editor - Fall 2025

As educators across the province settle into another school year, the fall issue of Voice considers the impacts of large class sizes, the need for investment in special education supports and resources, the impact of AI on education, and the 15th anniversary of designated early childhood educators (DECEs) joining ETFO. This edition challenges us to reflect on the state of our public schools, the well-being of students and the professional conditions of educators. Fifteen years after the introduction of Full-Day Kindergarten, Samia Javed’s examination of the DECE role reminds us that play-based, inquiry-driven learning is not a luxury, it is essential. “A balanced, evidence-informed early years policy must centre children’s rights, play and the deep expertise of practitioners,” she writes.

Meanwhile, Cynthia Roulston’s powerful account of overcrowded classrooms lays bare the human cost of underfunding our public schools. Class size is not an abstract metric; it is a measure of Ontario’s commitment to equity, safety and meaningful learning. When 30 or more students share a classroom, individual attention dwindles, supports collapse and educators are stretched beyond their capacity. As Roulston notes, the result is a system in crisis that fails those who need it most.

We also explore the double-edged sword of artificial intelligence in education. In conversation with Phil McRae, we grapple with AI’s potential to enhance learning – and its risks, from moral passivity to deepened inequities. Technology must serve pedagogy, not replace the essential human connections at the heart of teaching.

Finally, Jennifer Pinder’s call to rewrite the story of special education underscores the gap between policy promises and classroom realities. “Inclusion without support is abandonment,” she writes. We must listen to the voices of educators, parents and students who are advocating for the resources and respect they deserve.

This issue is a testament to the resilience and dedication of ETFO members. It is also a call to action. We urge policymakers to invest not only in outcomes but in the conditions that make those outcomes possible: smaller classes, supported staff and a commitment to the right of every child to learn in a safe, inclusive and nurturing environment.

Wishing you a productive new year!

– Izida Zorde