As a newly retired teacher, I am not in the trenches anymore. However, I am all too familiar with the wide scale of limitations that have been placed on public education under the Ford government. Not bargaining in good faith, especially when so much has been moved to the central table means that boards like TDSB, especially, are constantly struggling to keep up with student challenges, most importantly mental health. As someone who worked directly with the school psychologist, school social worker and school child and youth worker, I can say schools absolutely need more of these professionals! That’s just one small issue in a very populous and diverse school board that is currently being run into the ground as if it’s a failing business.
A school is not a business!
The union may not be perfect but it’s a means to a collective goal of supporting students.
Remember, teachers’ working conditions are students’ learning conditions.