January 27, 2020
Announcement: Empowering Teachers in Ontario

To: 7 online petitioners, 9 email respondents, 6 mail canvassers, 133 reporters and commentators; 26 trustee candidates and trustees; 26 of the many voters who are very concerned about our "one-size-fits-all" school boards; and 184 generally interested folks including members of the Social Mavrik Federation.

From: Bob Bray, President, Social Mavrik Federation

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CAMPBELL RIVER: Bob Bray is pleased to provide a description of several ways that charter schools would be empowering for teachers in Ontario.
Empowering Teachers in Ontario
A newly certified teacher in Alberta has the choice of teaching in a charter school because legislation allowing charter schools has been in place for 26 years in that jurisdiction. I came across an article which describes the choice a teacher faces when choosing to teach in a school operated by a non-profit charter school society or in a school operated by a school board. The whole article can be seen here.

One paragraph describes the empowering of teachers in a charter school and I quote it for your reference:

"The typical charter school endows its teaching staff with more say in the school’s goings-on than a traditional public school. The more intimate environment can help establish a “family” atmosphere among teachers and administrators, and teachers may experience more leeway regarding their curriculum and teaching style while feeling empowered to give input on aspects of school operation. This sense of ownership and involvement extends to the relationships teachers can form with their students, allowing them to pay closer attention to each student’s success."

I put five of these thoughts into an info-graphic which is displayed at the bottom of this message, in the Facebook section.
Public Independent Charter Schools - a petition
This online petition includes a history of charter schools in Canada and was viewed 110 times this past week and 93 times in the week previous. It can be inspected by clicking on the blue button or the underlined link below.
New petitioners are shown in red lettering (None this past week)

So far 28 citizens in Ontario and British Columbia have added their name and address to this petition to call on the Ontario Government to allow charter schools in Ontario.
Petitioners'
Province


---------------------





Ontario








---------------------


British
Columbia


---------------------
A ll ow Ministry
To Approve
Up To 20 Public
Charter Schools
-------------------------





SUPPORT = 20








------------------------


SUPPORT = 8



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Petitioner Demographics


Name of City or Town
--------------------------------------------------
Bowmanville = 1
Cochrane = 1
London = 1
Malahide = 1
Mississauga = 1
North York = 1
Oshawa = 1
Ottawa = 1
Sarnia = 1
St. Catherines = 1
Thorold = 1
Toronto = 7
Union = 1
Welland = 1
--------------------------------------------------
Campbell River = 1
Chilliwack = 2
Courtenay = 1
North Vancouver = 1
Vancouver = 1
Victoria = 2
--------------------------------------------------
Public Independent Charter Schools - a survey
The email questionnaire can be inspected by clicking on the blue button or the underlined link below.
New respondents are shown in red lettering (None this past week)

So far 9 citizens in British Columbia have emailed their position on independent publicly funded K-12 charter schools and the results are shown below.
Respondents'
Province



---------------------
British
Columbia
---------------------
Allow Ministry
To Approve
Up To 20 Public
Charter Schools

-------------------------
SUPPORT = 9
OPPOSE = 0
-------------------------
Respondent Demographics
Average Age
Number of Children
Number of Grandchildren
Number of Great Grandchildren
--------------------------------------------------
Avg Age=69 C=23 GC=53 GGC=4
Avg Age=0 C=0 GC=0 GGC=0
--------------------------------------------------
An easier-to-read summary of survey results can be seen here.
School Board Schools = Education Instability
Updates are shown in red lettering

School Board High Schools (31 Secular Boards)
  • work to rule began on Tuesday, December 3
  • Strike Day 1 - Wednesday, December 4
  • Strike Day 2 - Wednesday, December 10, against 9 School Boards
  • Strike Day 3 - Wednesday, December 17, against 10 School Boards
  • Strike Day 4 - Wednesday, January 8, against 8 School Boards
  • Strike Day 5 - Wednesday, January 15, against 16 School Boards
  • Strike Day 7 - Tuesday, January 21, against 13 School Boards
  • issues are compensation, class size and two required e-learning courses
  • Ontario Secondary School Teachers' Federation OSSTF
  • 60,000 teachers and education workers
  • 1,350 High School teachers are opposed to strike action

School Board Elementary School s (31 Secular Boards)
  • phase 1 job action began on Tuesday, November 26
  • not completing Term 1 report cards
  • not participating in board or ministry courses outside of school hours
  • phase 2 job action began on Tuesday, December 10
  • not planning any new field trips
  • not collecting money for school activities, except charitable causes
  • phase 3 job action began on Monday, January 13
  • work to rule, no before or after school presence
  • Strike Day 6 - Monday, January 20 against 3 Boards
  • Strike Day 7 - Tuesday, January 21 against 4 Boards
  • Strike Day 8 - Wednesday, January 22 against 3 Boards
  • Strike Day 9 - Thursday, January 23 against 4 Boards
  • Strike Day 10 - Friday, January 24 against 2 Boards
  • Strike planned for Monday, January 27 against 3 Boards (Strike Day 11)
  • Strike planned for Tuesday, January 28 against 5 Boards (Strike Day 12)
  • Strike planned for Wednesday, January 29 against 4 Boards (Strike Day 13)
  • Strike planned for Thursday, January 29 against 3 Boards (Strike Day 14)
  • Strike planned for Friday, January 29 against 2 Boards (Strike Day 15)
  • issues are special needs students, one early childhood educator in every kindergarten classroom, classroom-based violence and compensation
  • Elementary Teachers' Federation of Ontario ETFO
  • 83,000 teachers and education workers
  • 830 Elementary School teachers are opposed to strike action

School Board French Schools (4 Secular and 8 Catholic Boards)
  • 450 French language schools
  • Franco-Ontarian teachers vote 97 per cent in favour of striking if necessary
  • phase 1 job action began on Thursday, January 16
  • refusing administrative duties
  • phase 2 work-to-rule planned to begin on Tuesday, January 28
  • talks are planned for Jan 29 and 30 with School Boards and government
  • Association des enseigantes et des enseignants franco-ontariens
  • 10,500 members AEFO
  • 315 Franco-Ontarian teachers are opposed to strike action

School Board English Schools (29 Catholic Boards)
  • strike notice has been issued and teachers are in a legal strike position
  • contract talks were held on January 9th
  • mediator adjourned talks on January 10th
  • job action began on Monday, January 13th
  • teachers refuse to complete report cards
  • teachers refuse to participate in EQAO standardised tests
  • Strike Day 7 - Tuesday, January 21 against all 29 Catholic School Boards
  • issues include class size, maintaining full day kindergarten. No mention in press releases of any problems with compensation.
  • Ontario English Catholic Teachers' Association OECTA
  • 45,000 teachers
  • 1,305 English Catholic teachers are opposed to strike action
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Contact:
Bob Bray, President, Social Mavrik Federation
Phone: 250-900-2422
Mail: 422-1434 Ironwood Street, Campbell River, British Columbia V9W 5T5
Email: bob.bray@socialmavrikbc.ca
Website: socialmavrikbc.ca
The Social Mavrik Federation is a registered society in British Columbia dedicated to cultural politics through endorsing MP / MLA / Trustee candidates and supporting thoughtful petitions, as directed by its members.
Facebook:
I have posted the image below on my Facebook page. I invite you to visit it at facebook.com/bob.bray.334 and, if you do, you are welcome to give it a like, and/or a share and/or a comment.
Click here to see a larger version of the above image.
Twitter:
My twitter handle is bobbrayCR.

A recent tweet and image :
Jan 20 Day 6 teacher strike in Ontario. It's #etfo against 3 school boards. My proposal for tuitionless school choice is not just for some parents, it's also for some teachers. #onted #onpoli #osstf #aefo #oecta The link to the #onchartersch petition is: https:// gopetition.com/petitions/supp...
Click here to see a larger version of the above image.
By January 26th this tweet had been seen 483 times.
Backgrounders:
Topics covered in previous Announcements: