PED3155 - Learning Blog 6

Hello readers,

This week, we were asked to examine the major roles and functions of the teacher unions in Ontario. Unlike many other teaching climates, Ontario is very fortunate to have a union that helps organize the chaos that often surrounds the teaching profession.

The Ontario Secondary School Teachers Federation (OSSTF) is a shining example of such a union; it acts as the liaison between the public and the educational staff and provides options for collective bargaining. The OSSTF acts in the best interest of the public, as it attempts to organize the thoughts and needs of the students it teaches. Then, as evidenced by their It’s For Everyone page (found at https://www.osstf.on.ca/public-education/it-s-for-everyone.aspx) they publish calls to actions that provide concrete steps towards achieving said goals. Determined to maintain universality, comprehensiveness, proficiency, and accountability, the OSSTF hopes to keep public education public, in the sense that it best serves the public. Additionally, the OSSTF bargains on behalf of the teachers, providing a unified voice when it comes time to make the big calls. Most notably, the OSSTF has recently created a call to discontinue EQAO testing in favour of better professional judgement and collaboration, as well as re-allocating the funds to better serve student learning. This has come up as a result of discussion and inquiry amongst teaching professionals, and as a result, reflects a majority of the unions members. Since the union is capable of bargaining for the whole, educators can focus on their practices all the while knowing that their needs are being heard and met. Ultimately, the OSSTF provides a pathway to developing a better future for both educators and students alike all the while ensuring that regular operations are not disrupted.

On the end of ensuring that teachers are professionals, the OSSTF has strict requirements for entry that involve both practical and theoretical pedagogy. They demand a level of excellence of their teachers and provide guidelines to ensure that its members adhere to them so that the students can learn in their best environments. They also have a system of checks and balances that allows for teachers to air their grievances but also connect with like-minded professionals to better refine their approaches. Ultimately, it creates a community that strives for excellence all the while maintaining accountability to themselves and the public.

Image Credit: https://www.osstf.on.ca/

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