ETFO at 10: We’re Not There Yet (From the General Secretary)

Many ETFO members have fond memories of the  Federation  of  Women  Teachers’ Associations  of  Ontario  (FWTAO)   and   the Ontario  Public  School  Teachers’  Federation (OPSTF),  the  two  organizations  that  came together in 1998 to create ETFO. But for about half  of  all  our  members  ETFO  is  the  only teacher federation they have known. That alone speaks to the tremendous change that we have witnessed in the past 10 years. ETFO has grown in influence and in  sophistication. Our membership has increased and we are the number one teacher federation in Canada.

Some members lived through and remember vividly the turmoil of the years Mike Harris and Ernie Eves led  Conservative governments in  this  province  and  their  attacks  on  teachers and their federations. For others these are events from a history book, something they did not personally experience.

But even our newest members will appreciate the change in climate that occurred in 2003. With the election of the McGuinty Liberals we have experienced a government with a more positive commitment to the social and educational welfare of Ontario citizens. Today teachers and their federations are seen as partners in the education system. The  government has provided increased resources for education and has shown its commitment to teacher professional development.

But we’re not there yet.

The  work  that  elementary  teachers  do  is critical to the well-being of our society and the economic success of our province. We are shaping the citizens of tomorrow.

Research shows that it is children’s learning experience in the early years that sets the foundation for lifelong academic success. That’s one reason the government has committed to creating full-day Kindergarten programs beginning in 2010. ETFO is working  hard  to ensure that the  government understands  these  programs must be of the highest quality: they must be located in schools and staffed by fully qualified teachers.

But  even though  the importance of  early learning is widely recognized, when it comes to funding elementary schools  still  come second in our education system: the funding the government provides annually for each elementary student is  some $700 a year less than what it provides for secondary students.

This  is  a  historical  inequity.  For  years  it was  assumed  that  secondary  education  was more important and deserved  higher levels of financial support. What we know today about the importance of early learning should make increased  support for elementary education a given. It is not something we should have to fight for.

Because we’re not there yet, ETFO’s priority in this round of bargaining is to Close the Gap in funding. We intend to  obtain learning conditions for students and working conditions for members that are the best they can be, and certainly no  less  than those in the province’s secondary schools.

The  federations  that  preceded  ETFO  had  a long proud history of fighting for elementary teachers and for public  education. ETFO has continued that tradition. Our challenge now is to ensure that elementary teachers are respected and fully equal.