In Praise of Teachers
We've all encountered teacher bashing to one degree or another throughout our
career, bur not to the extent that the Harris government subjected teachers during the
weeks leading up to the implementation of Bill 160.
It's always refreshing to read or hear the praises of teachers.
This page is devoted to such letters and articles.
When you encounter such a letter, please email it
to me to include along with these. Your comments about the articles are also welcome.
1. In support of active teachers.
2. Teachers change lives
Who's Really Responsible??
For decades, teachers have been attending staff meetings where principals announced yet
another government initiative in education. Many teachers objected to the Whole
Language approach at the expense of phonics. Teachers never asked for the Common
Curriculum. Few were fully behind Student- Centered Learning. Fewer still
supported having five or six editions of various textbooks for one subject rather than
having the same book for every student. The use of writing folders was seen by
all but the "upwardly mobile" as a needless expense. Co-operative Learning
techniques continue to have questionable educational value for many teachers. Teachers
heralded the inception of special education classes in the mid-'80s, only to have them
replaced under the guise of the new and improved government educational initiative called "integration"
and "modified program". Invariably, principals met the challenge of
dismayed teachers, responding that the new policies came from the ministry of education
and that nothing could be done about them. But through it all, many teachers kept a steady
hand, applying some semblance of the traditional middle-class values of hard work,
discipline and accountability despite ever-increasing class sizes and meaningless
government directives.
J.W. van Manen, Oshawa, Ont
McLean's Magazine - The Mail - November 24, 1997
I am appalled by the ruthlessness Ontario Premier Mike Harris displays in
characterizing the teachers as a special interest group concerned only with preserving its
prep time. The teachers are at the front lines in what seems like an endless battle since
the beginning of this government's mandate, defending the humanitarian values of our
society from the arrogant agenda of Harris and his cohorts.
Donald Strange, Woodstock, Ont
McLean's Magazine - The Mail - November 24, 1997