FROM THE EDITOR


As educators across the province settle into another school year, the fall issue of Voice considers the impacts of large class sizes, the need for investment in special educa- tion supports and resources, the impact of AI on education, and the 15th anniversary of designated early childhood educators (DECEs) joining ETFO. Tis edition chal- lenges us to reflect on the state of our pub- lic schools, the well-being of students and the professional conditions of educators. Fiſteen years aſter the introduction of


Full-Day Kindergarten, Samia Javed’s ex- amination of the DECE role reminds us


that play-based, inquiry-driven learning is not a luxury, it is essential. “A balanced, evidence-informed early years policy must centre children’s rights, play and the deep expertise of practitioners,” she writes. Meanwhile, Cynthia Roulston’s powerful account of overcrowded classrooms


lays bare the human cost of underfunding our public schools. Class size is not an abstract metric; it is a measure of Ontario’s commitment to equity, safety and mean- ingful learning. When 30 or more students share a classroom, individual attention dwindles, supports collapse and educators are stretched beyond their capacity. As Roulston notes, the result is a system in crisis that fails those who need it most. We also explore the double-edged sword of artificial intelligence in education. In


conversation with Phil McRae, we grapple with AI’s potential to enhance learning – and its risks, from moral passivity to deepened inequities. Technology must serve pedagogy, not replace the essential human connections at the heart of teaching. Finally, Jennifer Pinder’s call to rewrite the story of special education underscores


the gap between policy promises and classroom realities. “Inclusion without support is abandonment,” she writes. We must listen to the voices of educators, parents and students who are advocating for the resources and respect they deserve. Tis issue is a testament to the resilience and dedication of ETFO members. It


is also a call to action. We urge policymakers to invest not only in outcomes but in the conditions that make those outcomes possible: smaller classes, supported staff and a commitment to the right of every child to learn in a safe, inclusive and nurturing environment. Wishing you a productive new year!


ETFO Executive Members


PRESIDENT David Mastin, Durham


FIRST VICE-PRESIDENT Shirley Bell, Kawartha Pine Ridge


VICE-PRESIDENTS Gundi Barbour, Upper Grand Mary Fowler, Durham


OTF TABLE OFFICER Nathan Core, Waterloo Region


MEMBERS-AT-LARGE David Berger, Kawartha Pine Ridge Manjit Deol, Peel Liana Holm, Rainbow Shideh Houshmandi, Hamilton-Wentworth Heather Latam, Greater Essex County Carolyn Proulx-Wootton, Grand Erie Mario Spagnuolo, Greater Essex County Mike Thomas, Thames Valley Sylvia van Campen, Upper Canada 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: 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 2025


PHOTO BY CHRISTINE COUSINS


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