End EQAO
Tara Zwolinski on the problems inherent in the EQAO and its negative impacts on students and educators.
EQAO
From the Editor
The spring issue of Voice is focussed on moving forward and organizing together for the change we want to see. The pandemic has been incredibly difficult for educators and other frontline workers and we all look forward to finally moving beyond it and rebuilding towards a future that centres equity and investment in public education, public services and communities.
EQAO Standardized Testing is the Barrier
Sean Lewis questions why the Ford government decided to funnel much needed investment in public education into re-establishing the EQAO test.
Telling a Different Story
Francesca Alfano reviews Peter Moss’s Transformative Change and Real Utopias in Early Childhood Education, a book which proposes that the neoliberal narrative currently being used to understand early childhood education is not neutral or inevitable.
What Kind of Citizen?
Westheimer’s view is that the goals of education have shifted away from preparing students to be active and engaged citizens. Through standardized curriculum and standardized testing, schools have moved to a more narrow focus on career preparation and individual economic gain.
Equity, Social Justice, and the Inclusive Classroom (Research for Teachers)
Commenting on his experience in trying to engage his “high-energy and at-risk” grade 6 students, a young male teacher noted:
Building Better Schools: ETFO's Vision for Education Reform (Ideas)
To refresh the government’s agenda and develop her own brand as Liberal Party leader, Premier Kathleen Wynne is spearheading a number of public consultations.
Assessing Assessment in Our Schools (From the President)
It’s not often that I’m able to deliver good news in this column. But this is one such occasion. I’m happy to be able to tell you that we have made progress on the issue of EQAO-related initiatives.
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.
Give Teachers the Time to Teach (From the President)
Over the past several years there has been a significant increase in the number of literacy and numeracy initiatives that ETFO members are expected to implement.