Professional Learning

This issue of Voice, devoted to professional learning, is special in a number of ways.

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.

Last October the Grand Erie Elementary Teacher Local executive decided to restructure the organization. We met with staff from provincial office to discuss better ways of  including members in the local.

This fall, like every fall, a new group of three- and four-year-old  children across the province experienced their first day in elementary school. Some were excited, some were scared, and some were just curious. What was school going to be like?

ETFO has been evolving since 1998, when its  two  predecessor  organizations joined to form one organization.

In the coming year the ETFO provincial office will undergo exciting changes designed to serve you better as we  add staff with expertise in a variety of areas.

ETFO exists to serve you – our members. We work to make a difference in the lives of  Ontario’s teachers, education workers, and students.

This round of bargaining has definitely created a new era for our occasional teacher locals. Negotiations have improved the working conditions in many areas, have established a number of significant gains, and have also revealed some challenges for reform.