The kids are all right. And if they’re not, who are we going to blame?
People are angry in the wake of the Elementary Teachers’ Federation of Ontario’s decision to uphold its recommendation for elementary school teachers to continue boycotting extracurriculars.
And angry people incorrectly point fingers.
Recommendation is a term that should be used loosely. Not acting in line with the union’s recommendation could be costly for teachers already worried about salaries: they could face $500-a-day fines and public name shaming.
Essentially, their careers and reputations will take a substantial hit.
What needs to be understood is that the strike is the result of what teachers claim is the legally questionable Bill 115. Second, the strike is the only means available to the teachers to fight for a new contract since the provincial government has removed their opportunity to bargain without impacting the students.
Their ability to strike like other government workers is diminished due to the fact that they are working with children.
They are therefore left with limited opportunities to show that the changes enacted by the former McGuinty government are detrimental to their livelihood.
The bill calls for a salary freeze, three unpaid PA days (1.5 per cent of their salary), a reduction of annual sick days from 20 to 10 and the loss of all banked sick days.
Scott Searle, a teacher at a catholic high school in Ottawa, says although extracurriculars benefit students, they aren’t mandatory activities for the teachers to support.
Teachers add on several hours a week in additional activities. There aren’t many other professions in which people spend several hours after work volunteering their time.
Yet, parents and commentators alike are quick to take a swing at educators, guffawing at their decision to boycott extracurricular activities as if they do it maliciously to harm children.
When sanctions like these are decided by unions and imposed on the teachers, they are once again forcing educators to deal with decisions made by others while receiving the brunt of the public criticism.
It is unfortunate for both students and teachers alike that this is the only bargaining chip being put forth by the union – especially when the importance of extracurricular activities is highly emphasized as a priority by many prominent experts.
The 2012 Active Healthy Kids Canada recently released its report card on physical activity for children and youth in the nation, asking the question: Is active play extinct?
According to the report, children are more likely to be physically active between 3 p.m. and 6 p.m., if given the opportunity. Police-reported crime for youth also peaks in the after-school period.
In order to encourage participation in after-school activities and decrease youth crime trends, extracurricular sports and clubs that “seek to address wider personal and social development” will tackle this issue.
In other words, extracurriculars, despite not being mandated as part of the curriculum, are important to a child’s overall development. It’s a safe bet that elementary school children under the age of 11 won’t adopt a life of crime in the wake of the union’s decision.
But the positive benefits resulting from after school activities is undeniable.
So who do we blame when students in Ontario are no longer reaping the obvious benefits of after-school art, soccer or volleyball? It certainly isn’t the teachers, who, while put in a difficult position due to their line of work, should have the same rights as other citizens in negotiating contracts.
By taking away their bargaining powers, the government further disadvantaged teachers, who had previously supported McGuinty in his campaign by running various electoral support advertisements.
It’s the strategy of the unions we should be questioning.
For union president Sam Hammond it’s a tactic to get the Ontario government to act and act quickly.
“The premier and education minister are deluding themselves if they think the repeal of Bill 115 will promote goodwill and stability in the education sector and restore their popularity,” said Hammond in a written statement.
“They used the bill and are now trying to make it disappear in the most crass of political acts. It’s a sleight of hand that ETFO members and most Ontarians will see through."
That's easy to say when you’re not on the front lines dealing with disappointed and angry parents.
Since September, students have been able to participate in few to no extracurricular activities. Shouldn’t part of the onus of facilitating these activities and filling time be on the parents as well?
A children’s programming co-ordinator at an Ottawa community centre says the centre has seen a spike in registration for youth memberships and course registration.
It isn’t free, of course, but it’s a move towards ensuring children are maintaining an active lifestyle.
And if community programs cost too much or aren’t convenient enough, there is a time when parents can voice their opinion on education policies that directly affect their children: the next election.
No one comes out on top in this situation. The teachers are forced into accepting the decisions of their union, parents are on a finger-pointing rampage and the kids continue to do, well, nothing.