By Gavin Taylor and Ryan Cormier
Most people polled in Centretown Nov. 16 favoured teacher testing in Ontario, but considered smaller classes a more pressing issue.
A majority of 57 per cent of those polled said they were in favour of the government’s new program. Only 31 per cent were opposed, and 12 per cent had no opinion.
Of the 212 respondents, 56 per cent were satisfied or very satisfied with the quality of teachers in Ontario, while 18 per cent said they were dissatisfied or very dissatisfied. The remaining 26 per cent had no opinion.
Respondents were asked how important funding, teacher testing, standardized tests and smaller classes are to improving the quality of education in Ontario.
The clear winners were smaller classes and increased funding. Of those polled, 71 per cent rated class size, and 64 per cent rated funding as very important. Only 36 per cent thought teacher testing was very important and 25 per cent said it was not important at all.
Are people familiar with the controversy? In Centretown they are: 81 per cent of those surveyed were aware of the issue.
Most said they had become informed through the media. Many said they had heard through word of mouth. Only four per cent specifically mentioned the government’s $6 million dollar ad campaign.
The province has decided teachers should pay their own professional development courses.
But teachers in general feel differently, and 81 per cent of our survey respondents agree. Barely one in 10 thought teachers should pay.
The survey suggests younger people are less likely to support teacher testing. Of those who expressed an opinion, 60 per cent under the age of 19 favoured the program. Between the ages of 19 and 35, support was 63 per cent. In the age groups of 36 to 55, 69 per cent were in favour. The support rate was 79 per cent for those over 55.
People with a college or university education were also less likely to support teacher testing.
Of those who expressed an opinion, 82 per cent with high school education or less supported the program. Only 66 per cent of those who attended a college or university were in favour.
Wealth doesn’t seem to have much bearing on people’s opinions. Nearly two-thirds (63 per cent) of respondents with household incomes between $20,000 and $30,000 supported the program. An equal proportion (64 per cent) of people whose households earned over $80,000 favoured teacher testing.