ETFO LOGO
The Elementary Teachers’ Federation of Ontario says it recognizes that schools need to be safe but points out the Ford government hasn’t fulfilled that promise to make schools safe.
Kim Douglas is the local president of the union and says right now instructors are forced to deal with mixed messaging.
“What we’re feeling is real frustration. Particularly by the lack of planning by the Ford government. What we’re finding is these messages are coming at really poor times, and they are sudden, and they are changing so quickly. So, it’s a lot of frustration that we’re feeling locally.”
Douglas says different health units are experiencing different circumstances and suggests decisions on in-class learning should be made accordingly.
“We don’t have a lot of cases right now, but the variants of concern are a real issue for us. We’re concerned with that. We want safety for all of us. For the students, for the parents, and for the families we go home to.”
Douglas notes virtual learning isn’t as easy as it comes across.
“Involves a lot of pre-planning, it involves a lot of technical issues, and it involves a lot of, sometimes, parental involvement, because little kids are not really adept at using some of the technology.”
She says teachers and parents can try and train kids on how to use the technology but notes they instead want to be outside playing and socializing with friends.
Douglas adds, “It’s not really the best equity for student learning. It’s isolated, kids are often online for long periods of time, and it’s not really the social interaction piece that we need to be able to teach effectively.”
She says Premier Doug Ford’s planned announcements does nothing for the morale of anybody in Ontario and only causes anxiety and dismay.
