“ETFO PARTICIPATED IN THE CONSULTATION PROCESS IN GOOD FAITH AND WITH SOUND ARGUMENTS. IT ENCOURAGED MEMBERS TO MAKE SUBMISSIONS, PARTICIPATE IN THE TELEPHONE TOWNHALLS AND RESPOND TO THE ONLINE SURVEY. ETFO MEMBERS RESPONDED POSITIVELY AND IN NUMBERS, AND MADE THEIR VIEWS CLEARLY KNOWN.”


making, it simply announced a cell-phone ban – which they had previously announced during the election campaign – and moved on to the next stage of education reforms.


CLASS SIZE AND FULL-DAY KINDERGARTEN


In late January, the government announced two new rounds of consultations with stakeholders in the education sector. The first was related to class size, which included questions on Full-Day Kindergarten (FDK), and the second was on hiring practices in Ontario school boards. From the beginning of this process, the government was intent on increasing class sizes through the entire public education system. The government also made it clear it was considering remov- ing the hard caps on class size currently in place in for Kindergarten and grades 1-3, changing the current teacher/DECE model for FDK and increasing class size averages by up to 6 students. ETFO responded by mobilizing mem-


bers and the public to ensure that a strong message was sent back to the government, the Ministry of Education and local MPPs. An online tool was set up on BuildingBetter- Schools.ca that allowed parents, teachers and other educators, and the public to contact their MPPs and send a message advocating for smaller classes and defending the cur- rent hard caps on class size in Kindergarten and grades 1-3. More than 100,000 people sent an email to their MPP opposing larger classes and many also called their MPP. That is 30,000 more than participated in the gov- ernment’s consultation. The overwhelming response from the


public forced the government to backtrack on part of its agenda. When then Minister of Education, Hon. Lisa Thompson, an- nounced planned changes to average class size on the last day of March break, she cred- ited ETFO’s campaign for the government’s decision to maintain the hard caps on class size for Kindergarten and grades 1-3. This was only a partial victory for elementary ed- ucators as the average class size in grades 4-8


10 ETFO VOICE | FALL 2019


will increase by 1, but a victory nonetheless. ETFO has consistently demonstrated that our organizing works.


HIRING PRACTICES AND REGULATION 274 CONSULTATION


Regulation 274/12 (Regulation 274) sets out a clear, consistent and transparent process for the consideration of candidates for va- cant positions. Under the regulation, school boards must maintain both a roster of occa- sional teachers (OT) and a long-term occa- sional teachers’ list (LTO list). Regulation 274 ensures that only teachers


with the required experience and qualifica- tions are considered for permanent positions. It also provides clarity and predictability to current OTs as well as those considering en- tering the teaching profession on what to ex- pect from the hiring process. Regulation 274 has gone a long way to eliminating nepotism and favouritism from the hiring process at Ontario school boards. From the moment the government


launched its consultation on hiring practices, it was obvious they were looking to weaken and perhaps entirely dismantle Regulation 274. While some employers in the education sector have sought changes to Regulation 274 in the past under the guise of a lack of flexibil- ity, the arguments against the regulation have been soundly debunked by research (2014) commissioned by the Ministry of Education. In a second phase of the consultation on


hiring practices, the government outlined in detail what its objectives are. It seeks to undermine the restrictions in Regulation 274 that require experienced candidates be considered for vacant positions first, leaving hiring to the discretion of principals alone. This will usher in the return of nepotism and favouritism in hiring in public schools across Ontario. ETFO responded to the consultation on


hiring practices by providing sound evidence that Regulation 274 works and clearly stat- ing that changes to the regulation should be the subject of negotiations at the bargaining table. ETFO members provided compelling


stories on how the arrival of Regulation 274 brought fairness to hiring in Ontario’s public schools. The government has yet to announce what changes it will make to Regulation 274. Whatever those changes are, it is unlikely that they will reflect the views of educators. After all, the government already had a plan in place before launching this “consultation.”


CONSULTATIONS ARE OPPORTUNI- TIES FOR MOBILIZATION


There are important lessons to be drawn from the way the Ford government has used consultations to justify its agenda:


1. When the government says it wants to “consult” with the public, in many cases this means it is attempting to legitimize pre- determined policy outcomes.


2. Not engaging in these so-called “consulta- tions” is not an option.


3. Consultations provide an opportunity to mobilize our members and supporters and continue to build our community of activists.


4. This government, like others before it, is susceptible to public pressure, especially if this pressure is applied at the appropriate place and time.


When teachers and other educators, par-


ents and the public at large mobilize, the gov- ernment knows there will be a steep political price to pay for implementing its agenda; sometimes the government will even be forced to retreat. This is one of the reasons we must continue to mobilize and build sup- port in communities across the province for public education. As the impact of the cuts to public edu-


cation become more apparent this fall, there will be many opportunities to grow our base of supporters and strengthen the con- nections in our local communities. ETFO members should seize these opportunities to be not only advocates and defenders of public education, but also allies of other progressive campaigns. ETFO will continue to call on members


to be engaged and participate in the political debate taking place in Ontario. The actions we take over the coming months will have a significant impact on the future of public education in our province. If you are not already signed up, make sure you register at buildingbetterschools.ca/signup for all the latest in campaigns and information.n


Federico Carvajal is a member of Communications and Political Action staff at ETFO.


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