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.
This is the first of a four-part history of Ontario public elementary teachers and their federations. We will learn about ETFO and its predecessor organizations, the challenges they faced and the victories they achieved.
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.
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.
Our education minister Sandra Pupatello is someone I’ve had the honour of working with in the past.
Representative Council brings together presidents and delegates of ETFO’s teacher, occasional teacher, and professional and education support worker locals. Council meets three times a year.
With the next provincial election set for October 2007, the Liberal government is well into the second half of its first term of office. How well is the government doing in keeping its promises? What initiatives do we anticipate in the months ahead?