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HomeMy WebLinkAboutTimes-Advocate, 1978-04-06, Page 13Unless schools open soon, students face handicap By HENRY HESS Most Huron County students applying for places in colleges and universities this fall probably won’t be handicapped by the fact they have missed more than a month of classes, However unless the schools reopen soon they will be at a disadvantage in competing for places in limited enrolment programs or for scholarships, and those who planned to work hard this semester to pull their marks up could be in trouble. Everything still hinges on the students being able to get back to school in time to complete the year. A survey last week of some colleges and universities revealed they are aware of the situation here but are continuing to process ap­ plications, banking on the strike being settled. “A lot will depend on how much longer the strike goes on,” according to Grant Clark, assistant to the executive director of the Toronto-based Council of Ontario Universities. April 21 is the date for submitting marks to back up applications to universities and he said it is “fairly crucial” the deadline is met. “It causes real difficulties if the universities don’t have interim (spring) marks When they’re looking at marks from across the province,” he explained. Robert Ritter, principal of F. E. Madill Secondary School in Wingham, said if schools here don’t reopen in time a student’s first term marks will be reported as the interim marks to univer­ sities. The strike would have to be settled at least a week be.fore the deadline for any second term marks to be included, he said. “I think our standards are highly respected and I think they would accept those (as interim marks),” he added. He pointed out first term marks have already been included in ail applications to community colleges and students are admitted on that basis. Mr. Clark agreed if students have a record of high marks and are clearly admissible they will .probably be admitted under the early schedule (in June) regardless of a lack of current marks, but he noted marginal students or those vying for scholarships or places in limited programs will be at a disadvantage. The council has taken no official position with respect to this strike, he said, though at the time of the Toronto teachers’ strike in 1975 it issued a statement saying it expected students to make every effort to make up lost work. Will consider applications Peter Trom, associate registrar at the University of Guelph promised: “We will consider applications for the fall semester based on any information available,” either grade 13 credits completed or the grade 12 average. He noted there have been strikes in the province before and suggested acceptance could be made conditional on successful completion of grade 13, provided the strike ’ is settled this year. “We will have to be sympathetic; it’s not the students’ fault,” he said. He also promised: “We wouldn’t put students in a position where they couldn’t cope with university work.” Guelph has courses equivalent to Grade 13 level in math and science available to students en­ tering those programs, so it would be possible to make up work missed this year. However the courses do not count as credit toward a degree. There would be some differences in the way ap­ plications are handled if the strike drags on and students can’t provide all necessary information, he pointed out. If that happens instead of proceeding automatically, each case would be con­ sidered on its own merits, based on information available at the time, by an admissions committee. Lack of current marks would' present less of a problem in some of the limited enrolment programs such as agriculture or land­ scape architecture since admittance to these is based in large part on a personal interview and other factors beyond grades, he added. But he also pointed out that without grade 13 marks the university wouldn't have any basis for awarding scholarships. Too many'ifs' Steve Little, the liaison officer for the University of Waterloo, had more reservations about the ef­ fects of a prolonged strike on students’ chances, par­ ticularly in specialized programs such as engineering, math or science. They will be at a disad­ vantage against other students if the marks are late getting in; “there are too many ifs to hold places for students”, he said. However he promised the university will deal with any marks received prior to June 16, the date universities send out most offers of admission. “What we’re going to do if the students don’t get back to school I don’t know,” he admitted, but said he assumes the universities will take a collective approach toward the situation. The university would have no procedure to follow, he said: “We never had to handle applications from students who missed that much school.” He predicted students would have difficulty in limited enrolment programs and in programs like math and science with specific prerequisites and would be unlikely to be successful. “There’s a whale of a difference between an arts program where there are no specified Grade 13 prerequisites and engineering where five of six (Grade 13) courses are specified,” he pointed out. Too early to panic According to Gerri Downie, associate registrar at Conestoga College, it’s too early for students to get into a panic over their chances there this fall. Conestoga will continue to process applications as normal and if the strike is prolonged it will defer the requirement to produce documents, she said. The first acceptance notices went out April 1 and, as usual, are conditional upon completion of grade 12. She added the college’s position has been set out in a letter to D. J. Cochrane, director for the Huron County board of education. Ron Cummins, registrar at Fanshawe College, London, agreed that at the ap­ plication stage the strike is not a factor. The college began receiving applications in January and its decisions are based largely on grade 11 final marks and grade 12 mid-year marks so the lack of spring term marks hasn’t affected the process. Fan­ shawe also started sending out offers of admission April 1 with admission conditional on successful completion of grade 12. “These students will be treated exactly the same as any others,” he emphasized. He said the question what would happen if they are - unable to complete Grade 12 because of the strike is Something that hasn’t been looked at definitively. The government sets admission requirements and if a student hasn’t completed the requirements the college can’t legally admit him, he said. In such a case some action by the minister of colleges and universities, Harry Parrott, might be required. A lot of colleges in this part of the province are quite concerned about the problem posed by the strike and are keeping close tabs on it, he added. Probably won't lose There have been a number of teachers’ strikes in Ontario since legislation allowing them to strike was introduced in 1975 but none have resulted in students losing credit for the year; most persons contacted are betting it won’t happen this time either. “We have had other cases where it has gone down to D- Day but it was always resolved and they finished the year,” Mr. Trom said. Mr. Ritter said he is concerned about the effects of the strike on all the students, not just the graduating or borderline ones, but he doesn’t think there is any likelihood they will lose their year, On the other hand he can’t guarantee everyone will be successful in being promoted either, he pointed out. “I couldn’t ever say that.” But he said if students have been passing there is no reason to think they won’t this year. He said he and other principals are very con­ cerned about the duration and timing of the strike* noting it is getting into a critical time toward the end of the year. If it continues much longer it will probably be necessary to cancel the final exams in order to make up lost class time, he said. “At this point we haven’t made the decision to cancel out the finals but it is on our minds.” He noted that by eliminating the finals in addition to the mid-term exams already eliminated it would be possible to pick up about 20 days instructional time and, "we could come pretty close to covering the essentials of the courses”. Especially for the graduating students it will be necessary to look at courses pretty carefully in terms of what could be taught and what must be taught, he said. It will be necessary to eliminate some of the op­ tional topics, which could make it rough on students planning to enter specialized university courses where they must score high in the first year in order to proceed. Classes had been scheduled to end June 7 followed by a six day exam period ending June 15. Theoretically the schedule could be extended but any changes must be approved by education Minister Thomas Wells and it would be extremely difficult to add more than a few days, Mr. Ritter said. There has as yet been no official discussion about extending the school year, he added. Times - Advocate Serving South Huron, North Middlesex J& North Lambton Since 1873 1 & North Lambton Since 1873 ■ \ [ I TEACHER WORKLOAD Times-Advocate, April 6, 1978 TEACHER WORKLOAD We, the parents of Huron County Secondary School students, want to know what issues are so important that they are depriving our teen­ agers of their education. We have asked that the contract proposals be printed along with last year’s contract, so that we may understand the problems causing the stalemate in negotiations. There are 2 items yet to be settled: 1. Teacher Workload 2. Sick Leave Credit Gratuity LAST YEAR’S CONTRACT (1) The Board shall endeavour to achieve the following guidelines. (a) MAXIMUM PUPIL PERIOD CONTACTS (P.P.C’s) (This means the total number of students a teacher sees in a day.) Advanced (5 year courses) ..............................175 General (4 year courses).................................155 Technical...........................................................140 Special education.............................................100 (b) MAXIMUM CLASS SIZE Advanced and Commercial (typing and business machines only).........30 students General and Open (including other Commercial subjects)...........25 students Technical, Home Economics practical and Special Education Academic ..................................................20 students Special Education practical ...15 students (c) LESSON PREPARATIONS The Board shall endeavour to maintain an average of three lesson preparations per cycle per teacher. (d) ASSIGNED TIME 75% instructional, 25% preparation and marking. (e) APPEALS Where exceptions to the above guidelines exist on September 30th, the teacher in­ volved shall be made aware, by the prin­ cipal, of the factors causing the excep­ tion. If the teacher is not satisfied with the explanation he/she may appeal to the Appeal and Review Committee. 2. Branch Affiliate Members (hereafter called teachers) shall not cover classes for other teachers who are absent except on an emergency basis as determined by the prin­ cipal. When any one teacher has covered 6 classes the principal will inform the Board and the teacher will be reimbursed in the amount paid to a qualified teacher. THE PARENTS ASK 1. How many teachers complained of overload in working conditions during the past 2 years? What was the main problem? Board Answer: There were no complaints received from teachers regarding working conditions over the last 2 years by the Board or its administration. Teachers Answer: It is difficult to calculate the exact number of teachers who complained to principals about working conditions because so many variables apply in the case of any teacher’s timetable. However, statistics in two areas may be revealing: In the 1976-77 period, before any workload clause existed in the agreement, 76 teachers (28%) taught 7 periods and would feel unfairly treated considering that 72% of the teachers taught 6 periods. Also in that period 58 teachers (21%) had excessively high Pupil Period Contacts and would feel unfairly treated since 79% had reasonable PPC’s. In the period of the 1977-78 school year 48 teachers (17%) worked 7 periods and 51 teachers (18.6%) were over in their PPC’s. These teachers naturally felt unfairly treated since their workload was in excess of the guideline figures. Grievances were lodged that year to bring the situation to the atten­ tion of the Board. 2. Last year there was an Appeal and Review Committee. We heard it was inactive. Is this true and why? Board Answer: During the academic year 1976/77 there was an Appeal and Review Com­ mittee. The Appeal and Review Committee met once. It met to consider the grievance of a teacher who quit teaching at age 37 and was claiming approximately $10,000 from the Board as a retirement gratuity. No other problems were referred to it by the teachers. Teachers Answer: Following the 1971 mass resignations both parties thought an Appeal • and Review Committee was necessary to provide a forum for discussion and head off confrontation situations. This committee worked well from that time until June 1977. The committee had met previously in the 1976-77 school year and were able to resolve four problems amicably. It ceased to operate when the committee was faced with a problem which involved differences in basic philosophy. 3. How many classes are now over the guidelines suggested in the 1976-77 contract? LATEST BOARD OFFER (a) A Workload Committee comprised of one trustee-appointed by the Board one teacher-appointed by District 45 OSSTF Executive Council one principal-appointed by Huron Co. Secon­ dary School Principals Association one senior administrator-appointed by the Director of Education will monitor the workload distribution and will submit reports and/or recommen­ dations to the Director of Education in May and October and, where necessary, through him to the Board. (b) Any teacher who feels that he has been treated unfairly in the assignment of workload may complain in succession to his Principal, Superintendent, and Director of Education. In the settlement of such com­ plaints the decision of the Director of Education, after consultation with the Workload Committee, shall be final and bin­ ding. Notwithstanding the provisions of this sec­ tion, if the Director of Education does not render a decision within 30 days of being made aware of the complaint, the complai­ nant may invoke the provisions of Articles 8 &9. BOARD POLICY STATEMENT RE WORKLOAD Within the limits imposed by the approved pupil/teacher ratio, the Board will strive to equalize the workload in its secondary school through preparation of a “Workload Guideline”. By March 1st each year the Director of Educa­ tion will issue to each secondary school prin­ cipal, for use in preparing his timetable, a “Workload Guideline’’ which (1) has been developed in co-operation with representatives of the teachers, Board, Headmasters’ Association, and the senior administration; (2) takes into account, as far as possible, for each teacher (a) the total ntimber of students taught (b) the size of each class or section (c) the nature of the program offered in the department (d) the number of lesson preparations and the amount of student work to be marked (e) the level of difficulty of the subject(s) (f) the degree of involvement with other school activities (3) attempts to prevent individual teachers from being responsible for unusually large numbers of students; and (4) provides reasonable amounts of non­ teaching time for administration, prepara­ tion, marking, and supervision. (5) incorporates provision for teacher to re­ quest a review of this workload, through hierarchical stages, to the Board. (a) PUPIL Period contacts (PPC’s) No teacher’s PPC’s shall exceed the follow­ ing guidelines: Students taking Advanced Credits (including typing and business machines) ..................................................180 Students taking General Credits (including other commercial subjects)......................155 Students taking Technical Credits (including Family Studies practical, Special Education Academic & Remedial).........140 Students taking Special Education Credits........................................................100 (b) AVERAGE CLASS SIZE No teacher’s average class shall exceed the following guidelines: Advanced....................................30 students General........................................25 students Technical....................................20 students Special Education Practical......15 students (c) LESSON PREPARATIONS The Board shall make every effort to main­ tain an average of three lesson preparations per cycle per teacher. LATEST TEACHER PROPOSAL (f) WORKLOAD GRIEVANCES (i) No grievance on the subject of workload may be initiated prior to September 30 in any school year. (ii) Notwithstanding Article 8 - Grievance Procedure, no grievance shall be lodged by any teacher prior to September 30, 1978 in regard to any alleged violation of 13.03 (iii) Notwithstanding Article 8 - Grievance Procedure, no grievance shall be lodged by a teacher in regard to any alleged violation of 13.03 (a) or 13.03 (b) unless the alleged violation encompasses both 13.03 and 13.03 (b) (g) WORKLOAD COMMITTEE (i) A Workload Committee shall be establish­ ed which shall consist of: 2 trustees appointed by the Board 2 teachers appointed by the Branch Af­ filiate 2 principals or vice-principals appointed by the Headmasters’ Association. The Director of Education or his designate (d) ASSIGNED TIME (i) The Board shall make every effort to have the maximum teaching timetable load for a teacher not exceed 75% of his full possi­ ble timetable. (Note: The lunch period is not to be considered as part of the timetable.) Example: 6 periods for a one-day 8 period cycle Example: 6 periods for a two-day 8 period cycle (ii) The remainder of the periods on a teacher’s timetable shall be designated as: (a) administration, or (b) preparation and marking Note: Administration periods and preparation and marking periods may be reassigned by the principal as set forth in 13.03 (g) (iii) It is understood that as of September 30 in the contract year, the number of teachers teaching in excess of 75% of a full possible timetable shall not exceed the number doing so as of that date in the previous contract year. (e) OCCASIONAL TEACHING Teachers shall not cover classes for other members who are absent except on an emergency basis as determined by the prin­ cipal. A record of classes covered by each teacher will be maintained by the principal. When any one teacher has covered 6 classes, the principal will inform the Board and the teacher will be reimbursed in the amount paid per day to a qualified teacher. (ii) The Workload Committee shall monitor the workload of each teacher and may make recommendations for changes in such workload through the Director of Education to the Board between May 1 and September 30 of each calendar year. SICK LEAVE GRATUITY LAST YEAR’S CONTRACT A teacher who has completed 12 years service in Huron County schools and who is eligible for a pension under the provisions of the Teachers’ Superannuation Act shall be entitled to the pay­ ment of a gratuity on termination of employ­ ment. LATEST BOARD OFFER A teacher who has completed 12 years service in Huron County schools shall be entitled to the payment of a. gratuity on termination of employ­ ment provided that he (1) is eligible for a pension under the provisions of the Teachers’ Superannuation Act and has attained the age of 50 years. OR (2) is in receipt of a pension under the provisions of the Teachers’ Superannuation Act including, without limiting the generali­ ty of the foregoing, a disability pension. LATEST TEACHER PROPOSAL (same as last year’s contract) A teacher who has completed 12 years service in Huron County schools and who is eligible for a pension under the provisions of the Teachers’ Superannuation Act shall be entitled to the pay­ ment of a gratuity on termination of employ­ ment. Do you feel this number is serious enough to prolong this strike? Board Answer: The number of teachers in the county (i) in excess of average class size of 30-3 (ii) in excess of 180 PPC’s-1 155 PPC’s-10 140 PPC’s-0 100 PPC’s-0 (iii) in excess of average class size and PPC’s-1 No. Teachers Answer: The number of classes now over the guidelines is no longer relevant because no changes could be made at this point in the school year. What is important is that there be guidelines for the coming school year so that we do not return to the great inequities which existed prior to our having workload protection in the agreement. 4. Why is the board so opposed to the class size, pupil period contact, etc. details,-while the teachers are so opposed to a workload com­ mittee. Could not both proposals accomplish the same aim? Board Answer: The Board is opposed to fixed, inflexible absolutes. The Board is also of the opinion that they and not the teachers were elected to manage the school system of Huron County through its administrators. If the teachers were to use the committee approach objectively, then the continued high quality of education can be maintained. Unfortunately this Federation demand is really a “job security” issue and little else. Teacher Answer: The Board must give its reasons for opposing workload guidelines. The teachers do not object to a workload com­ mittee but they see its function as monitoring rather than establishing guidelines. We feel that it is the Board’s responsibility to set down workload guidelines so that all teachers in the county will be treated in the same way. The Board’s most recent offer of a Board policy (changeable at any time by them) offers a date of March 1 in each year for es­ tablishing guidelines. In other words, no guidelines this year, but maybe for next year; that is, for the school year beginning September 1979. 5. In regard to sick leave gratuity, the only difference between the Board proposal and the teacher position is the addition of “has at­ tained the age of 50 years”. Why is this point so important? Board Answer: The original intent of this clause was to be a pay out for a retiring teacher, not a cash out provision. Teacher Answer: A sick leave credit gratuity established under the Education Act allows teachers to collect one-half of their unused sick leave credits when they leave teaching. Beacause they have not used their sick leave during their careers, they have saved the Board the cost of supply teachers for those days. The teachers feel that age fifty is unfair because it penalizes a teacher who has devoted himself to Huron county rather than coming here to complete his career. E.g, a teacher comes to Huron when he is 38 and teaches 12 years (required for eligibility), he retires at 50 and collects his sick leave credit gratuity. Another teacher comes to Huron at age 23 and teaches for this county for 26 years; he is only 49 and cannot collect his sick leave credits. 6. Do you favour the use of an arbitrator to set­ tle this dispute? Why? Board Answer: No. We feel accountable to the people in Huron County to settle our own problems. Teacher Answer: Yes. We first suggested this in September 1977. This is the fastest way to get education going again. It becomes nonsen­ sical to refuse outside assistance when the parties can no longer negotiate and solve their problems. If one feels that one’s offer is reasonable, one should be willing to allow an arbitrator to make the decision. It is im­ perative that the school system in this county resume operation as quickly as possible and arbitration appears to be the only way. 7. What are the long range financial im­ plications if the settlement favours the teachers’ position regarding work load? Board Answer: The result, could be even smaller classes, therefore more teachers; therefore additional costs. The long range im­ plication is a shift of financial burden from provincial grants to local ratepayers. Teacher Answer: There are no long-range financial implications. Quite simply, it is the pupil-teacher ratio that determines how many teachers shall be hired. The workload guidelines merely attempt to spread the workload more equitably among those teachers. 8. What are the long range workload im­ plications if the settlement favours the Board's proposal of a committee? Board Answer: The Board’s proposal offers the opportunity for input by teachers in an ever changing situation. Teacher Answer: If a settlement favoured the Board’s present offer of a committee, teachers would have no workload protection and we could be returning to the situation we had a few years ago, of two teachers in the same department, one teaching a total load of 95 students, the other teaching over 200. 9. Do you agree with the Principals of Huron County who have stated that the successful completion of the year is in danger? Board Answer: Any prolonged interruption in the school year affects the students. Teacher Answer: Yes, we agree that for a growing number of students the successful completion of their year is in danger. We feel that it is not only the senior students who need regular classes, but all students. 10. What suggestions do you have to get serious negotiations under way again? Board Answer: The Board’s position is reasonable. We were willing to try the teachers’ original workload proposal in the 1976-77 contract, but we found it conflicted with the PTR (Pupil-Teacher Ratio) clause. Why won’t the teachers at least try the Board’s proposal? Teacher Answer: We have already requested the mediator, Mr. Harvey Ladd, to once again attempt to get the parties together. This may have been accomplished by the time this is printed. If that attempt is un­ successful, then once more we would ask the Board to go to voluntary binding arbitration. This would enable teachers and students to return to their classrooms while arbitration is going on. There is absolutely no point in waiting for the Education Relations Com­ mission to step in and eventually have com­ pulsory binding arbitration imposed. We can ask now, voluntarily, but only if the Board agrees. Parents, you now have some facts. You now have some opinions, suggestions, or perhaps further questions. Write to your Trustee or to Teachers Federation, Hotel Clinton, Clinton, Ontario; or to Huron County Board of Educa­ tion, Clinton, Ontario; or to Thomas Wells, Minister of Education, Parliament Bldgs, Toronto or better still all three! The situation is serious. Don’t underestimate what your letter can do.