My apology to readers who have been attempting to access this blog through our website or trying to contact any St. Paul's staff by email. Both have mysteriously disappeared over the weekend, but we're working on it! Of course I am just returning after a week away, so if you have been attempting to get in touch through email I haven't been able to read messages today.
Teachers and children are back to school this morning, which means that the many readers who are educators are busy with a new classroom of students or providing support in other ways. Education is an essential aspect of human development and we know that Sunday School was originally designed to teach children the Three R's in industrial Britain 250 year ago. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sunday_school
I have been mystified and annoyed that in the province of Ontario teachers have been portrayed as the enemy by the current government during this past summer. I get it that the province is financially strapped and that our teachers are among the best paid in the world and still have an extremely generous pension plan. But this government chose to pay them well in the first place, so why the adversarial approach, including creating a bill called the Putting Students First Act, as though teachers are suddenly enemies of our kids? This smacks of political oportunism.
Teachers and children are back to school this morning, which means that the many readers who are educators are busy with a new classroom of students or providing support in other ways. Education is an essential aspect of human development and we know that Sunday School was originally designed to teach children the Three R's in industrial Britain 250 year ago. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sunday_school
I have been mystified and annoyed that in the province of Ontario teachers have been portrayed as the enemy by the current government during this past summer. I get it that the province is financially strapped and that our teachers are among the best paid in the world and still have an extremely generous pension plan. But this government chose to pay them well in the first place, so why the adversarial approach, including creating a bill called the Putting Students First Act, as though teachers are suddenly enemies of our kids? This smacks of political oportunism.
I figure teachers will have to "take one for the team" in some key areas, but they should also be treated with respect. Our children score high by international standards in virtually every category, so the teachers must be doing something right.
What are your thoughts about all this on Back to School Tuesday?
5 comments:
As teachers we greeted the students this morning in the rain, with smiles on our faces, and wished them a good evening, again in the rain as they left for the day. My feet are soaked and my hair, well that's a different story! No where did I see a politician doing any of this, nor did I see any of them in front of a classroom. I did hear that McGuinty was at a school today, explaining to teachers that his government chose to put "students first" with their funding and so there will be no funds for us. That's fine, but as you said, I think we have always put students first, that's why we do what we do.
Seems private, non unionized workers have had to just accept their company's reductions in salary and benefits without discussion so admittedly I just tune out alot of
the labour unrest stuff...but hadn't thought of this perspective but you are right...political opportunism....with 3 kids back to school today and great admiration and gratitude for so many of the teachers that have taught our kids the three r's, and more....this political posturing does seem antagonizing toward the teaching profession, and thus detrimental to the system that serves our families/kids ...and certainly not a reflective of our experience.
The adversarial approach started with the teachers. The unions walked away from the table. Laurel Bretton said repeatedly that the table was open and obviously it was because 3 of the unions did come back. Unions are supposed to be forces for collective bargaining, not collective extortion which is unfortunately what I've seen my entire life. What McGuinty offered was not unreasonable in the first place, but it was also only the first deal. Negotiation starts with two sides taking their ideals and coming to a common ground. For that to happen, both sides have to be at the table. The teachers (unions, that's important because Nancy makes a good point) weren't, and that is not putting students first. I don't agree with Mcguinty's anti-strike rhetoric which was absolutely inflammatory and politically based. But the unions haven't negotiated in good faith either.
Jonathan the unions who walked away went to the table and were told "this is how it will be" no negotiating, no bargaining. Those who did settle have a "me too" clause which allows them to get the same as everyone else if the deals are better. It's a can of worms and the biggest thing I'm upset about is not a wage freeze, I know we all have to do our part, it's the way this government has gone about this process that is upsetting.
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