HomeMy WebLinkAboutTimes Advocate, 1997-03-05, Page 8Page 8
Times -Advocate, March 5, 1997
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Huron MPP Helen Johns, above, addressed a
group of teachers and educational workers,
right, that gathered Friday in Exeter. At left
John Clarke of OSSTF spoke to the crowd.
Education reforms spur
rally at MPP's office
ws' Continued from front page
its poor communications skills, for
. its difficulty with analysing. data
accurately; . for jumping in too
quickly with so-called• 'reforms'...
and for not doing adequate, home-
work," Laurie said at the rally.
After nearly an hour of blocking
.traffic on Highway 4 during -peak'
time, the, large group dispersed.
Organizers said they were _pleased
with the •turn -out by teachers and
educational workers, especially on
a Friday night.,
Laurie claims the rally gives
Johns evidence to take back to
Queen's' Park, that teachers are se-
rious in their efforts to oppose
funding cuts. and vitt likely take.
job action if Huron County educa-
tion suffers as a result of proposed
changes. .
- "We have ,come out to show the ' .
people of this county that we -are •
-
serious -professionals who. _ if
'pushed too far, will stand up for our
rights, and for . the rights of the
children who are our•wards in the
system." Laurie told. fellow rally
participants. -
Government considers outsourcing
"As education support staff...we'
are an important part of the
. school community." •
Dear Editor:: •
• We,•the education support employees of Huron ' •
-County, find the recent government proposal to out-
source our jobs. a despicable act. The Ontario goy-,
ernment is dropping employees at will from health
care, transportation. social services: municipalities,
• •libraries. etc., etc. while leaving iaping holes in the,
ever deteriorating fabric of Ontario.
Bill 104, "The Fewer School Boards Act". cur-
rently being read in Queens Park. gives specific
powers to an "appointed" (not elected) Education
improvement Commission to: "consider, conduct
'research. facilitate discussion and make recommen-
datigns.to the Minister on how to promote and facil-
itate the outsourcing of non -instructional services
by district school boards." s.335(3)(f) .
Outsourcing means the hiring of people from pri-
vate companies -that hope to save money. but at
what cost to the smooth operation and continuity of •
the school?
As education support staff (computer technicians,
secretaries, educational assistants, resource educa-
tional assistants)we are an important part 6f the
school community. We work side by side with
teachers and parents to nurture the children of our
schools and communities so that they grow into
contributing citizens in years to come.
We are not asking for more money or better bene= '
fits. We are asking that our jobs,not be spirited
away .by the passing of treacherous legislation
which would initiate the possibility of the auction-
• ing of our positions to the lowest bidder. -
Dedication and commitment to task are unimpor-
tant to the Harris government. They believe years of
experience can be learned by crash courses. •
We, as education support employees contribute
'extra to education in our own way, on an individual
basis. and our local school -board recognizes and
supports that contribution. We are the host volun-
teers of parent nights, the lunch-hour bulletin board
designers, the drama seamstresses and set builders
after school. We are the wounded knee and broken
heart menders who -care deeply about the student we
work with. We willingly forfeit our coffee breaks
and lunch hours to help students and facilitate the
smooth runnini of_the school. We are often at '
school long after the invisible punch clock has
struck to signify our day's end. yet -the Harris gov-
ernment feels the veterans of educational support
are easily disposed of'at the expense of the students
themselves. •'
Weare contributing members of our communities
and we support our local businesses. Will 'trans-
planted' outsourced support workers -care for the
children in.our schools like we do? Will 'transplant-
ed' outsourced workers spend their salaries in our
communities?
We urge you to contact Helen Johns, MPP -Huron
at 1-800-668-932(7 or the Minister of Education and
Training, John Snobelen at 416-325-2600 to express
your concerns about your children's education.
' Signed by the following CUPE.
Local 1428 members at Exeter Public School.
Christine Bruxer, Sharon Kyle,
Marion McCurdy. Kathy Thiel
Outsourcing workers
"Dedication and commitment to
task are unimportant to the
Harris _government. •"
Dear Editor:
We. the education support employees of Huron
County find the recent government proposal to out-
source our jobs, a despicable act. The Ontario gov-
ernment is dropping employees at will from health
care, transportation, social services, municipalities,
libraries, etc., etc. while leaving gaping holes in the
ever deteriorating fabric of Ontario.
Bill 104, "The Fewer School Boards Act", cur-
rently being read in the Queen's Park, gives specific
powers to an "appointed" (not elected) Education
Improvement Commission to:
"consider. conduct research, facilitate discussion
and make recommendations to the Minister on how
to promote and facilitate the outsourcing of non -
instructional services by district school boards."
2.335(3)(f)
Outsourcing means the hiring of people from pri-
vate companies in the hopes of saving money, but'at
what cost to the smooth operation and continuity of
the school system? •
Huron County's Education and Learning Re-
source Centre support staff fill many roles: secretar-
ial, computer trainers, computer technicians, and
clerical. We at the ELRC work together to provide
the resources so that the teachers can teach and the
children can learn using the newest technology
available. These rolls require highly specialized
training and education. Because we are so special-
ized we must continually upgrade to stay current
with the ever changing needs of our jobs. It is unrea-
listic for the government to out -source our jobs to
private companies, and expect the same. quality of
service that is currently being provided.
`' We are not asking for more money or better bene-
fits. We are asking that our jobs not be spirited away
by'Obe,rassins of treacherous legislation which
would initiate the possibility of the auctioning of
our positions to the lowest bidder.
Dedication and commitment to task are unimpor-
tant to the Harris government. They believe years of
experience can be learned by crash courses.
We are contributing members of our communities
and we support our local businesses. Will 'trans-
planted' outsourced support workers care for the
children in our schools like we do7 Will 'transplant-
ed' outsourced workers spend their salaries in our
communities?
We urge you to contact Helen Johns, MPP -Huron
at 1-800.668-9320 or the Minister of Education and
Training, John Snobelen at 416-325-2600 to express
your concerns about your children's education.
Signed by the following CUPE, Local 1428
members at Huron County Board of Education:
Carolyn Austin. Karen Carter, Lois Gamlem, Pat-
ty MacKay, Dianne Peck, Elaine VanWonderen,
Debi Bryans, Linda Carter. Don Hardy, Wynn Mac-
Pherson, Wade Sanford, Cheryl Wettlaufer, Hillie
Chamncy, Kerry Cornell, Julie Kinsman, Marilyn
Mann. Jenny Smith
Your Views
Letters to the editor
Bill 104 and thefundingformuia
".:.there is a possibility that more
dollars will be spent on the
students of Huron." .
Dear Editor: •
The Government has listened to the concerns of
rural Ontario and has acted by introducing. Bill 104.
"As many parents are aware, there,have been inequi-'•
ties in the funding formula since it was designed.
and these inequities have been very harsh when it
comes to funding education in the County of Huron.
Presently:the Huron Perth Separate School Board•
spends -approximately $4.900 per student. This is • .
made up of approximately $7.6 million raised
through property tax and a $1.8.5 million grant from -
the Province. The Huron Board of Education spends•
$5,500 per student, approximately; $26.5 million
through property tax levy and a $27.5 million grant
' from the Province and"therefore from income Tax
collected from the taxpayers of Ontario. The situa-
tion is quite different in the major cities..In Toronto.
in the public system approximately $9,000 is spent
for each student's education every year. All of these
funds are raised by property tax levy., An inequity in
per pupil funding has led many people to he con ,
cerned about a two tiered education system.
' As subsequent governments have reduced grant
funding to Boards of Education, Huron Boards have
been substantially affected as a result of the grants
they receive. The Toronto Board on the other hand,
has received no reduction in its funding because it .
receives no'grants from the provincial governments.
Therefore, it is important to note that Toronto
schools have faced no reduction in funding what
soever. Many have talked about the equitableness of
this situation. I believe that this system no longer .
' works, and is not equitable to the people of Huron. .
and therefore it -must be changed. We have done this
in Bill 104. Subsequent governments have consid-
ered change but to say the least, it is controversial.
especially in Toronto.
Asa result of Bill 104, funding for students will
'be on a per pupil basis. This will ensure that all'stu-
dents in the.province have the same dollars being
' spent on their education regardless of where they
live. Depending on the results of the funding formu-;
la discussions,, there is a possibility that more dollars
will be spent on the students of Huron.
The same bill amalgamates -school hoards across -
'the province. I believe that -this will reduce.adminis
trative t psts.across the province.and putdollars into
epresthe classroom. A Huron'Pehh Board'ptesently rep-
resents, the
ents'the separate schools in, Huron an1.it will not
be changed. The public school hoard will become a
merged Hurdn Perth Board. Will this produce sav- -
ings;? Presently we have two directors, two -business.,
manager's, etc. and I believe we cannot help but re=
duce administrative costs. •
One of the last issues outlined in Bill 104 is the
establishment of the Education Improvement Com- .
mission. This commission was set up to ensure that
the, transition occurs smoothly and students con-
cerns are met and _that the taxpayer's interests arc
.protected. A trustee in the Huron Board has stated
that l$ welcornes the Commission so that the inter-
ests f the public are protected and there is no ques-
tion to -the fairness of the amalgamation.
As he teachers unionsar this ge u p ht, week by pick-
seting MPP's offices and taking the debate into the •
classroom. I ask parents; teachers and students to •
consider carefully the effect of this Bill on the edu-
cation of Huron students. The government'respond-
"ed to -the risquesfs and petitions of the peoplein Hu- -
ron by putting'orward this bill. Since the hill meets
the needs of tbe.Huron students, it surprises me that
the teachers union has mobilized teachers to march
in Exeter On Friday. What is it that they are march=
ing about? 15 it a preamble to -the bargaining table?.I
certainly hope not!
Sincerely.
Helen Johns, MPP. Huron
Statement to Helen Johns; Huron MPP
The Minister early in his mandate
promised to create a crisis in On-
tario's public education system..,
Dear Editor:
We, the teachers.and educational workers of Hu-
ron County arc here to X.sistess our deep concerns
for the integrity of our Huron County schools, for
public education in general and for our profession.
The focus of education should be the three R's. Mr.
Snobelen, Minister of Education and Training, has
refocused education in Ontario with the four C's -
Cuts. Crisis, Change and Classroom.
It is quite obvious that the letter "C" is indeed a
favored letter with the Minister. His most often used
expression in public debate is —Let me make this
perfectly clear!" With all due respect, we are here
today to make some things perfectly clear ourselves.
Cuts have hurt the classroom. Cuts have hurt the
students in our classrooms. There are more students
in each classroom. There are more students with
needs in our classrooms. Teacher librarians and spe-
cial education resource teachers have been eliminat-
ed and reduced respectively in our schools. Pro-
grams like music. physical education and junior
kindergarten' are under attack. Cuts have hurt and
classroom!
•
The Minister early in his mandate promised to
create a crisis in Ontario's public education system.
Sad to say that this is one promise that the Minister
has kept.
Minister Snobelen has initiated unprecedented
change in order to provoke his crisis. The onslaught
of changes includes the Secondary School Reform
Initiative, the new elementary curriculum reform,
province wide assessments through the EQAO, edu-
cation governance changes within Bill 104, and
threatened changes to teacher collective bargaining
rights and means. Educators are used to educational
reform over the past 150 years of Ontario's educa-
tional history. Educators welcome worthwhile and
tested changes to curriculum and education that is
progressive and beneficial to our.studcnts. Teachers
are in fact agents of change. Wehave embraced the
use of computers and technology in our classrooms
as an example. The intensity and frequency of re-
cent changes and those proposed will lead to chaos.
MPP Johns, please tell the Minister of Education
that a classroom, is not just four walls with a teacher,
students.books. aper. pencils and a computer. The
. minister tells the public that for every.dollar spent in
the classroom, 80 cents is spent "outside of the
classroom". This is misrepresentation! He is ne-
glecting to include in his calculations thins like the
school library. "guidance, teacher preparation time,
school resource teachers. principals, vice -principals,
arts sports. custodial services, the school secretary.
transportation and busing. A classroom does not
stand on its own. Snobelen's definition of classroom
devalues all of the programs. educational personnel
and services that support the "real" classroom in a
"real" school. To replace existing employees who
provide custodial, secretarial and support . services
with low-wage, casual employees is foolish. To tar-
get these employees is to suggest that their services
are not an important factor in ensuring a positive
learning environment.
MPP Johns, as our representative in this govern-
ment, we call on you to intensify your efforts and
advocacy on, behalf of Huron Public Education for
education finance reform that must favor a low
spending rural Board like Huron. Per pupil spending
and teacher compensation are well below provincial
averages and are near the bottom of the Province.
The crisis that the Minister created is leading to
chaos. Change which is politically motivated is hurt-
ing our students. A classroom can not stand on its
own. We ask him to not lose sight of the most im-
portant "C" word in education... the Children in our
classrooms.
On behalf of OPSTF - Huron by Paul Dyck,
President