Although the 1960s and 1970s were the years of consciousness-raising, the rise of teacher militancy, and the beginnings of many social justice movements, it was during the 1980s that progress on equity issues was made in policy, legislation, union structure, and collective agreements.
This will be my last column as ETFO president. I have served on the ETFO provincial executive for nine years, the last five years as your president. It has been a privilege and a joy to watch this organization evolve into the accomplished union that it is today.
When the Harris Conservatives took power in 1995 Ontario’s education system experienced dramatic, and often negative, change. The Tories cut education funding and denigrated the role of teachers as professionals.
The election for members of the governing council of the Ontario College of Teachers represents a small but significant victory for teachers. This is the first time that a majority – albeit a slim one – of the members of the College’s governing council will be federation members.
Throughout the 1990s – particularly during the Harris-Eves years of government – we were forced as a federation to spend our energies on trying to preserve public education.
Universally accessible, quality, publicly funded education is the fabric of democracy and the cornerstone of a just society. Nevertheless, over the last decade, Ontario has witnessed an unprecedented growth in the number of private schools.
The fight against teacher recertification will only be won at the political level and with the support of strong, collective action on the part of teachers across the province.
Here's how ETFO has been preparing to protect publicly funded education and the rights of teachers, education workers and students: