FROM THE EDITOR


With the fall issue of Voice, we are fo- cused on supporting educators with the issues you are facing as you return for another school year. As President Karen Brown writes in her column, “Years of funding cuts from the Ford government mean larger classes and fewer resources for the students who need them. Schools are struggling with fail-to-fills, violence in the classroom, and very little access to mental health and other supports. Your union is working hard to address these and other issues through all of the chan- nels available to us.”


In this issue’s lead story, Zaiba Beg and Todd Rimmington consider the causes


and impacts of the fail-to-fill issue in Ontario. Asking what it would take to mean- ingfully address this issue, they write, “Tis crisis could have been mitigated by in- formed, collaborative and focused public education supports from the provincial government and education stakeholders.” In Teaching and Learning about Truth and Reconciliation with Our Youngest


Learners, Michelle McKay writes about how educators can shiſt their approach to engage young students on these issues. “Tere are powerful possibilities for develop- ing a strong foundation for knowledge, skills, and understanding about truth and reconciliation with students in Kindergarten and the early years,” she writes. “Tey are not too young to engage in learning and make a difference by taking action to- wards change.” In Taking a Walk Trough and About Media Literacy, Chelsea Attwell reflects


on the learning she has done with her students on community walks. “As students document sounds and images, they develop voice and agency. Tey are keen to point out different signs, excited by the fact they can “read” the environmental print, but also puzzled and quick to inquire about signs that seem unfamiliar or even unfair,” she writes. Also in this issue: Uloma Onyido writes about participating in Project Overseas,


Matthew Morris talks about supporting Black male students, a roundup of news from Annual Meeting and a curriculum insert on teaching students to be race-conscious.


Wishing you a wonderful start to the new school year! ETFO Executive Members


PRESIDENT Karen Brown, Elementary Teachers of Toronto


FIRST VICE-PRESIDENT David Mastin, Durham


VICE-PRESIDENTS Shirley Bell, Kawartha Pine Ridge Gundi Barbour, Upper Grand


OTF TABLE OFFICER Nathan Core, Waterloo Region


EXECUTIVE MEMBERS Tamara DuFour, Hamilton-Wentworth Mary Fowler, Durham Juan-Yahya Gairey, Peel Shideh Houshmandi, Hamilton-Wentworth Carolyn Proulx-Wootton, Grand Erie Mario Spagnuolo, Greater Essex County Mike Thomas, Thames Valley Sylvia van Campen, Upper Canada Jenn Wallage, Waterloo Sharon O’Halloran, General Secretary Lorna Larmour, Deputy General Secretary Sabrina Sawyer, Deputy General Secretary


ETFO Voice Izida Zorde, Editor Sharon O’Halloran, Business Manager Michelle Goddard, Advertising Sales David Beyer, Design Contributors not otherwise credited: Karen Kindree, Federico Carvajal, Dory Cerny


Member of the Canadian Association of Labour Media (CALM) and Canadian Education Press Association


Indexed in the Canadian Educational Index / Répertoire canadien sur l’éducation


ISSN: 1481-4072


Articles contained herein reflect the views of the authors and do not necessarily express official policy of the Elementary Teachers’ Federation of Ontario.


Acceptance of an advertisement does not imply ETFO endorsement of the product or service. Advertising contracts are subject to cancellation if members complain.


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Phone: 416-962-3836 or 1-888-838-3836 E-mail: etfovoice@etfo.org etfovoice.ca


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4 ETFO VOICE | FALL 2024


PHOTO BY CHRISTINE COUSINS


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