Business as usual at OTF means that research is constant and ongoing. While OTF conducts its own research as needed, we are often informed by carefully reviewing and analyzing the research of others.
The Ontario College of Teachers (OCT) is about to embark on an activity that occurs every three years: the election of members of the profession to serve on its governing council. The upcoming election, in March and April of 2009, will be the fifth since the inception of the College.
It is fitting, in ETFO’s 10th anniversary year, that we celebrate its successes. However, we must also look, acknowledge and reflect on the challenges that bind the 155,000 members of the Ontario Teachers’ Federation (OTF). One of these is the Ontario College of Teachers (OCT).
It is five o’clock. and the agenda indicates that the staff meeting should be wrapping up, but the principal mentions some interesting trends in the recently released schoolwide scores and asks staff to stay and discuss them.
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.
The Liberal party campaigned on the platform of revitalizing the Ontario College of Teachers. Indeed, Liberal politicians seemed to comprehend the teachers’ dilemma – that teachers could only support and respect the College if it were truly a self-regulatory professional body.