From the Editor - Winter 2024
The winter issue of Voice comes on the heels of a province-wide listening tour for ETFO released officers as members get ready for what is widely believed to be an early provincial election. Reflecting on the impact of organizing together, President Karen Brown writes, “Not only does organizing present an opportunity to change things for the better, it is also a way for us to connect with neighbours, colleagues and community members. Organizing is the antidote to the powerlessness that many of us are feeling after years of cuts.”
In Getting Politically Active and Engaged, Sarah Whalen considers the many opportunities available to ETFO members to get involved in their union. Stressing the inherently political nature of protecting public education and other public services she writes, “With both federal and provincial elections on the horizon, mobilization and engagement are a priority, not only in Ontario, but across the country.”
In A Call to Action: Navigating the Challenges of Special Education, Cristol Bailey reflects on the impacts of years of funding cuts on the special education needs of students, particularly in the North. “The increasing demands for special education in Ontario classrooms, particularly in its northern boards, underscore a pressing need for systemic change. Every child deserves a quality education tailored to their unique needs, yet the realities of insufficient funding, staffing shortages and geographic disparities pose significant barriers,” she writes.
In Gentle Teaching: Responsive Practices that can Help Calm the Chaos in Classrooms, Alannah McGregor and Avery Gray write about teaching skills that help children better regulate their behaviour. “A dysregulated student is generally not able to learn or participate in classroom activities,” they write. “With that in mind, self-regulation is the foundation for everything we do in the classroom.”
In Becoming Banksy, David Stocker writes about creating a graffiti alley in his school hallway, where students stencilled, spray painted and learned about their social justice heroes. “Let me be the first to say that I’m no expert on Banksy. But what I do know is that his graffiti art is about ideas,” he writes. “Every piece is an opportunity to have a conversation.”
These articles, along with book reviews, curriculum on food security and a crossword are sure to make great winter reading!
Happy New Year!
– Izida Zorde
