Teachers, parents, supporters rally across Ontario against province's education policy

Teachers, parents, supporters rally across Ontario against province's education policy

Collective agreements for Ontario educators are set to expire Monday

Rallies in support of education workers take place around Ontario

Teachers, parents and supporters protested in dozens of municipalities across Ontario Saturday against provincial changes to education, as a collective agreement with educators was set to expire ahead of the new school year.

"We're out here to make sure that everybody knows how important it is that education is a priority in this province," said Lisa Lacaria, first vice president for the Ontario English Catholic Teachers Association (OECTA), speaking outside Queen's Park.

Attendees at Saturday's rallies voiced frustration over changes the province has made to the English school system since placing a handful of school boards under supervision earlier this year.

Bill 101, or "Putting Student Achievement First Act," capped the number of elected trustees for boards and created roles centred on financial oversight following allegations of financial mismanagement.

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But underfunding remains a core issue, according to Lacaria.

"Our classrooms don't have what they need," she said. "They don't have the adults that we need in the classroom. They don't have the supplies that we need in the classroom. And the people that are suffering because of that are our students."

CBC Toronto reached out to Education Minister Paul Calandra's office for comment, but did not recieve a response by deadline.

Last week, however, Calandra told CBC News he was optimistic, promising the school year would return as usual in September, despite the ongoing negotiations.

"We remain committed to get a negotiated settlement, so that teachers have certainty, parents have certainty, and students have the best opportunity to succeed," he said.

Collective agreement deadline looms

Concerns from parents and teachers are particularly relevant ahead of Monday's deadline for contract negotiations, while teachers unions and the province have yet to sign an agreement.

The province and education unions have been at loggerheads throughout the summer, unable to agree on what should be negotiated at the central table.

"The failure of the government to do that, to me is a sign that they're not serious about actually trying to find a resolution," said Peter Tabuns, MPP for Toronto-Danforth, at a rally at Coxwell Commons Parkette in Toronto's east end.

Tabuns said he’s concerned stalled negotiations could lead to strike action and negatively impact the approaching school year.

"It's entirely possible this government wants to force them out on the street as a way of setting them up for public frustration," he said. "So I'm very worried about the government's approach, frankly."

Parents, educators worried about cuts

Changes to school systems over the past year have frustrated both staff and parents, said Michelle Aarts, Toronto District School Board (TDSB) trustee for Beaches-East York.

"Really great programs have been cancelled," Aarts said at the rally at Coxwell Commons Parkette. "The province is really undoing best practices and student-centred approaches to save a buck ... it's just creating frustrations and barriers for families."

The province's education strategy is a failure, said Kate Dupuis, a local mom and organizer whose kids attend school in the TDSB.

"We demand that they properly fund our schools," she said. "It's what kids deserve."

Dupuis, whose son is in the third grade and likes to read, said she worries about reduced funding for school librarians, and complained that his school is already sharing a vice president with another.

For the OECTA's Lacaria, she hopes the rallies get the attention of others who may not have a direct stake in the education system.

"I'm hoping that they see it," she said, so "that they really understand what's going on in our schools."

Lacaria also has a message for the premier: "I'd like to say to Doug Ford to put the kids first," she said. "The kids should always be our priority, and that's what he needs to do."