OTF Works to Represent the Profession (OTF Report)

“It is  not  enough to  be busy. The question is:  What are we busy bout?” When Henry David Thoreau  made this  remark he was not relating them to the activities of OTF,  but his words resonate.

Federation days
OTF continuously  advocates  for the profession. A significant initiative every year involves our liaison with future teachers – future members  – and the deans of  education at Ontario universities. Teacher-candidates  and newly certified teachers  deserve to know from the outset that federation is there for them. In conjunction with the affiliates, OTF facilitates federation day visits to each of Ontario’s  15 teacher education  programs in the 13 publicly funded faculties of  education and provides access to  free resources and support, such as the Survive ‘n’ Thrive website. Each Ontario teacher federation  has a teacher education liaison committee (TELC). The chairs of these committees serve on a provincial committee coordinated  by OTF. OTF provides funding so that the TELCs  can provide a rich and engaging program of activities and information to our future members. OTF works  to ensure that the federation maintains a positive partnership with our university colleagues. Many ETFO members  have taken on the voluntary and important roles as members of the TELC and many ETFO local leaders have attended federation days at the faculties of education. On behalf of OTF,  thank you!

Curriculum Forum
For many years the  OTF Curriculum  Forum has facilitated professional interaction among subject, division,   and   special  interest  associations.  It includes the voices of more than 40 associations; for  example, the  Ontario   Association of  Junior Educators  (OAJE),  the  Ontario  Council  for Exceptional Children (OCEC), and the Consultants’/ Coordinators’ Association  of  Primary Educators (CAPE).
The  Curriculum Forum  also  represents  an active and important liaison between the associations and the Ministry of Education. If you belong to a curriculum association,  encourage it to apply to join the forum if it hasn’t already done so! The forum continues  to grow every year and is always keen to welcome new member associations.

Political lobbying
Recently, OTF hosted a  hospitality suite  at  the Liberal Party convention. Our advocacy  in  these informal  settings   puts  all  affiliates  front  and centre with government  officials and politicians. Many  critical  topics  are  discussed   individually and in small groups at these types of events. The casual atmosphere  often allows us to  build networks  and make allies. For instance, we continue to lobby to have the Teachers’ Pension  Plan treat members receiving WSIB payments and long term disability benefits fairly and equally. We discuss such  topics  as  our  support for  the  Lieutenant Governor’s Aboriginal  Literacy  Camps and  safe and  inclusive  schools,  lobby for  more support for  English language learners and special needs students, promote  the authenticity and merit of assessment  performed  by teachers, and reiterate our opposition to EQAO testing. In answer to the question posed at the outset, we have been busy promoting you, your professionalism, and your rights. And we are relentless!