Ontario Teachers Strike @portula-blog - Tumblr Blog

RESPONSE: THOMPSON: Of Course It's About the Money

In this article, Scott Thompson gives his opinion on the true reason behind the teachers’ strike. In his opinion, it’s all about the money. The fact that bill 115 imposes on the Charter of Rights and Freedoms? No, that has nothing to do with it according to Thompson. It’s about how the teachers’ cannot bank sick days and therefore the money is lost. Thompson believes that there would be no strike had it not been for that, and bill 115 would have been accepted without much of a ruse. I disagree with Thompson’s opinion, as it appears he’s looking more at the situation from a very isolated standpoint. He doesn’t see the morality in keeping the right to collective bargaining, and refuses to acknowledge the unjust bullying that teachers are forced to endure during this strike, and that teachers do in fact understand that we are currently in a recession and just like everyone else, teachers need to give up a little. He believes that had the focus on the strike actually be on the impalement on the Charter of Rights and Freedoms, the repercussions would be much, much less. I have a complete opposite opinion than Thompson, and instead I choose to believe that if it was simply for the money that this would have an incredibly smaller impact than it already does. But Thompson does spark interesting questions, such as if money is having a greater effect on the situation than it should have. I don’t believe there will be much of a future with this idea, but it is a particularly interesting one to keep in mind.

#article eight

RESPONSE: Toronto’s Top Educator Resigns After Admitting to Plagiarism

This article details the actions of Chris Spence, former Hamilton and as well as (now also former) Toronto education director. Spence was forced to resign due to fierce plagiarism allegations on January 10th. He had admitted to plagiarizing parts of an opinion piece that had been published in a major Toronto newspaper and as such stepped down from his position. What I find most peculiar about these facts is the fact that from the very beginning of writing, we as students are told that above all else we should never plagiarize and always properly cite works. For someone with such a high standing in the educational system to ignore this golden rule, it seems almost as if they have set a poor, poor example for those students who are under the educational system. It’s amazing to me that Spence could simply plagiarize without thinking of the repercussions of his actions, as it’s a very conscious move and one which led to a complete and utter resignation of an incredibly high position. This very much relates to the current teachers’ strike, as now someone with such an important role in all this practically losing their job in the midst of such uncertainty in the educational system. This now only increases the magnitude of the dispute and shows a crumbling defence on Spence’s former side. This leads me to wondering just where the board of education will go next with the loss of Chris Spence, and how exactly it will affect the teachers’ strike.

#article seven

RESPONSE: PIKE: Teachers Unions Standing up for Us All

The article I have chosen to look at next was an opinion piece by Deirdre Pike. In this article, Pike discusses his outlook on the current Ontario teachers’ strike. He addresses issues such as the union, the public opinion on the strike, the governmental aspect of it all, the removal of extra curricular activities and so on. Thankfully, Pike chose to view these issues in a supportive manner towards the teachers at hand, which other opinion pieces I had found throughout my endeavors failed to do. I very much agree with his opinions on the aforementioned issues, such as how he thinks “it’s a very dangerous message to send our youth that the cancellation of these programs is more important than the cancellation of the democratic process and the rights of workers’ to bargain with their employers.” Unlike many others who view the battle between teachers and bill 115 from a standpoint outside of a union-backed job, Pike lends his full support to the teachers which I find very reassuring and a pleasant change from those who are the opposite. I find myself asking questions such as what future Pike sees for the issues and what he believes it will all come down to. I, personally, can only hope that more people will release supportive pieces such as this and help back the teachers in their battle.

#article six

RESPONSE: Ontario Won’t Stop One-day Teachers' Walkout at Two Boards on Monday

In this article, the Ontario government has stated that they will not disallow the Stratford and Timmins areas to strike. This meaning that although Education Minister Borten has previously stated that the government would do all in its power to prevent a strike, it will continue as planned, thanks to the five day warning parents had been given in advanced as well as the fact that the strike would only last one day. This article somewhat confuses me, as in a previous article it had detailed that any striking would be immediately ceased, but now it appears that if there are proper circumstances, striking will be allowed. Borten then states that the efforts of this walk-out will be essentially fruitless. This somewhat angers me as it appears as if the teachers’ efforts are being mocked by the government, as if saying “try all you want but it’s not going to happen”. This raises many questions, mainly if the government will allow the teachers’ in my area strike as well and yet again disregard the previous statements of disallowing strikes. As for the future of this article, I think that this may continue on for quite some time, with back and forth threats to cease strikes and then walk-outs happening despite of that.

#article five

RESPONSE: Details of Teachers’ Strike Action Emerge

The next article I have chosen to read, titled “Details of Teachers’ Strike Actions Emerge” outlines just as the title describes. The actions teachers will take under this strike, with a focus on elementary teachers in particular, are provided with a lack of detail. Such actions include a removal of extra curricular activities, field trips, etc as well as a fine of $500 if teachers choose not to ignore the restrictions set in place by the union. To me, it appears as if the union is taking actions too far. Applying a fine if teachers choose to use their personal time to aid students is just plain unfair, and I highly disagree with this action. Teachers are not paid for in the first place for the extra curricular activities and instead choose to do them out of their own will, and therefore I find that abolishing the teachers’ ability to do so in an act of protest is ridiculous, and fining teachers for running them even more so. This leads me to wonder just how the teachers in question feel about the seemingly threatening statements made by the union. I feel as if in the future, the union may face a risk of dissolving completely because of the unfair actions taking place.

#article four

RESPONSE: Teachers Will Be Ordered Back to Work if They Strike: Broten

The next article I read attempts to detail the actions the Ontario Education board will take if the elementary teachers continue with plans to strike. Although the way the strike would be stopped was not explained, it was inferred that there was a means, possibly through bill 115, to return teachers to the classroom if the need arises. The article also included many angry statements from parents concerning the possibility of the strike, many saying how it’s a great burden for them to find alternative arrangements in case of the absence of school for a day. I found this article almost frustrating, as it appeared the board of education had complete disregard for the exact effects that bill 115 has against the teachers, and it seemed as if it was almost mocking the teachers in subtly threatening to halt the striking using the one thing the teachers are striking against. I was also frustrated in the apparent disregard the parents had for the teachers and their child’s education. I do understand how many parents would find it difficult to make alternative arrangements for their children, but it seemed as if many did not even attempt to make a statement about how the teacher’s striking affected their education or what the teachers were striking for whatsoever. This article also peaked many questions, such as exactly how the striking would be prevented and what means they would use to stop it. I believe the threats and arguments that arose within this article will make themselves known many times in the future, as it is a constant issue being addressed but in a very disclosed format.

#article three

RESPONSE: Public Elementary Teachers Could Strike Dec. 7

This next article details the possibility of elementary school teachers striking on the 7th of December. Although it doesn’t say where exactly the teachers will be striking at, the impending strike against bill 115 is bound to occur within the next week. The article also states how parents of elementary school students will be given a three day notice of the strike. I find this article particularly interesting as while high school teachers are simply boycotting extra curricular activities, elementary teachers are taking full action in closing school for a day to physically strike against bill 115. This makes me feel slightly angry, as elementary students only face a slight one-day break from school; high school students such as myself are forced to face a complete lack of activities for a prolonged duration. This raises several questions, such as if elementary schools are facing a different set of circumstances due to the bill and if high schools will ever follow in the act of closing school for a day to strike. I believe that the elementary school teachers will go forward with the strike, although many parents may be angry with this as those who work during the day must now find arrangements for their children.

#article two

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