The increasing diversity of Ontario’s population makes it difficult to defend a school system devoted to one religion.
Ontario today is much different demographically than it was in 1867 when rights for Catholic and Protestant schools were established through the British North America Act, the precursor to the Canadian Constitution Act, 1982.
Given the diversity of Ontario’s population, our school system should be playing a key role in fostering mutual understanding and social cohesion. This goal is best achieved through an education system where students of all backgrounds learn together and see themselves in the faces of their teachers, and where curriculum is developed based on the whole population, not on the beliefs of one religion.
Due to recent declining student enrolment, many communities in rural and northern areas have an insufficient number of students to support schools delivered through four different school boards. This leads to school closures that leave some communities without an elementary English-language public school; it also forces school boards to bus young students long distances. To compete for students, Catholic boards are accepting non-Catholic students and both public and Catholic boards are waging expensive marketing campaigns. This is an example of wasteful spending that should be directed to the classroom.
ETFO believes the public and Catholic school systems should be merged to create one public school system for English language students and another for French language students. Public opinion polling consistently shows that a majority of Ontarians agree with this position.
The fact that Canada’s leaders in 1867 made a deal should not mean that deal can never change. Quebec and Newfoundland have both changed their school systems. Quebec has eliminated its Catholic and Protestant school boards, and Newfoundland has replaced seven denominational school boards with one public board. What is needed is the political will to make the change.
Reduce class sizes in grades 4 to 8 and Kindergarten to enhance activity-based learning, positive social interaction among students, and individual attention from teachers.
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Implement a province-wide strategy to address violence in schools. Review the current education funding formula to ensure it meets the diverse needs of students. Address the school repair and maintenance backlog.
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Expand opportunities for all students to reach their learning and development potential by providing greater support for students with special needs and for students who are English Language Learners.
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Cancel EQAO testing and focus instead on teachers' classroom assessments of students.
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Kids benefit from having counsellors, librarians, and teachers who provide instruction in the Arts, Health, and Physical Education.
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Elementary school is a place where kids have many firsts – first best friend, first books read, first class presentation. In the classroom, educators are laying the foundation for a lot of first memories and first experiences. Ensuring that these memories are fond ones for every student is a must.
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Maintain the ability of unionized teachers and other education workers to speak out on behalf of safe and healthy schools and policies that contribute to student engagement, academic success and personal growth.
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Establish one publicly funded education system in Ontario for each of Canada’s official languages.
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