Comment
Pawns in a larger game
Seventeen of 22 kids in my daughter’s Grade 4 class had signed up to participate in the County cross-country running event next week. She learned Monday the event won’t happen this year—maybe never again. Teachers have withdrawn their participation in the event as part of their union’s dispute with the province. Hundreds of kids across Prince Edward County participate in this event; the fastest move on to a regional competition at Sandbanks Provincial Park.
It is not just cross-country that has been lost. Rugby, basketball, football. All the activities, which many believe are essential ingredients to school life and the wellness of the students who attend them, are being denied by a teachers’ union reacting angrily against a government they feel has double-crossed them.
My nine-year-old daughter doesn’t understand why she is being punished. Why these activities are being taken away. Nor does she understand she is being used as a pawn in a much larger game.
She doesn’t know that Premier Dalton McGuinty made promises to honour teachers’ contracts when he needed their support in the last election. Nor does she understand that he broke those promises in a failed attempt to get a Liberal elected and thereby win a majority of seats in the legislature in a by-election in Kitchener-Waterloo earlier this month.
She certainly doesn’t understand that her portion of Ontario’s public debt is already north of $20,000; that it has nearly doubled in her lifetime and that it is growing still. She doesn’t worry about such things. Nor should she. Children shouldn’t be drawn into fights between governments and their unions.
It is wrong. By every measure. It was a tactical mistake by the union—one made surely in frustration and desperation— but one they must reverse and soon. For they cannot win.
McGuinty Mondays, as they were originally conceived, were devised to withhold teacher participation in extra curricular activities and sports one day a week. It would be enough of an irritation and inconvenience to families and students that it would send a message— but not enough to erase after-school activities and programs altogether—a profound loss in many communities.
Along the way McGuinty Mondays has blossomed into a full-blown withdrawal from afterschool activities, at least in some schools—though not all. Not yet.
Perhaps it is a measure of frustration on the part of the teachers’ union but it is not a valid excuse for depriving children of the sports, recreation and social engagement they find at school—things they they may not get anywhere else.
The unions have overreached and are urged to make a tactical retreat. Convincing students— captive in their classrooms—that they, the teachers, have been wronged by the provincial government is one thing. They will find a much tougher audience outside the classroom.
For the average person doesn’t understand how it is that teachers are struggling to get by on an average salary of nearly $90,000 a year—among the highest paid in the country. The median household income in Prince Edward County is much less, at about $60,000. Many of these families would also like three months of holidays each year, but know that will never happen. Many don’t understand that in addition to this time off, some teachers have been entitled to take as many as 20 days a year of sick time. And that they could carry over half of these sick days. And that they could accumulate these sick days until they retire—when they may cash them in.
They may not feel as offended as the union does that the province has exchanged this arrangement for six days of sick leave on full pay, plus another 24 weeks at two-thirds of their salary—but without the ability to bank these days into future years.
This is neither a criticism of teachers, nor is it a defence of the provincial government. Many teachers do a great and important job—and I know many are feeling deeply wounded that they are unable to provide t hese activities and sports to our children. Yet they feel that since the province has removed their ability to strike, they have been left with no alternative. But punishing children in retaliation for its grievance with the province is wrong. Wrong professionally. Wrong morally. Wrong tactically.
My nine-year-old daughter doesn’t understand why the cross-country running meet and other activities have been cancelled. I’m having a difficult time explaining it to her.
rick@wellingtontimes.ca
Utilizing a coupon is pretty easy, but Eric Summers will help you determine
not merely how to work with a discount, but when and wherever.
Rick, I’m hoping you can help me find a number, the average Ontario teacher’s salary. The Ministry’s funding document 2011-2012 (the most recent available), gives the following: teacher salaries range from $42,452 to $94,612, with the benchmark – the amount the government actually pays per teacher – set at $72,879. Where on the Ministry site can I find the figures you use – “$83, 543. With the wage increases on offer, the average elementary school teacher’s salary will rise to 90,481”?
Nat, My sources are here, here and here.
Thanks, Rick.It’s as I thought. You write: “ACCORDING TO THE MINISTRY OF EDUCATION the average elementary school teacher salary in Ontario today is $80,392 and the average salary earned by high school teachers is $83, 543. With the wage increases on offer, the average elementary school teacher’s salary will rise to 90,481,” but, the truth is, you have cited other newspapers and NOT the Ministry. For the REAL numbers why not read:
http://www.edu.gov.on.ca/eng/funding/1112/technical11.pdf
Nat,
The point of my comment, which many respondents seem to have sidestepped, was to observe that in a dispute with their employer some teachers have chosen to punish, or in some cases manipulate, the children they are there to guide and educate. It seems to be to be an inappropriate and ultimately counterproductive way to express their frustration with their employer.
I have no particular insight into teachers’ salaries or whether they are too high or too low. I raised the issue of salaries because it is my perception that as a means to advance their argument they will have difficulty persuading the average person of the righteousness of their cause, when individual teachers earn more than the average family in Prince Edward County.
Thank you for pointing to the Technical Paper on Education Funding. I would refer you to the page 132 of the same document. You will note that the according to this document the benchmark salary for elementary classroom teachers is $71,470 (salary) plus $8,311 (benefits) plus $4,109 (for the professional development of teachers). That equals $83,890.
Now you know, likely better than I do, that salary benchmarks aren’t the same thing as averages; which is why every once in while the province has to ratchet up the benchmark to pay for teachers’ salaries that are increasing faster than the benchmark, which in turn forces boards to take resources from other areas to cover the shortfall.
Finally, are you really suggesting the Ottawa Citizen, Globe and Mail and National Post all got it wrong on these facts? If so, where’s your evidence? Your source?
It was a minor point, Rick, and I didn’t intend to dispute your thesis which is perfectly clear, but I did want you to see that $71,470 SALARY is not “an average SALARY of nearly $90,000 a year.”
My question lately is if I am doing an extra-curricular activity and I get hurt (in the case of sports) by falling or twisting an ankle, who pays for that? I am entitled to 10 sick days per year. After that I only make 66% of my salary. Why would I take the chance of being hurt when I am only going to have to fork out the money from my own salary?
I find it interesting that you can not find a single lesson to help your daughter to understand the conflicts that are going on in Ontario schools. Since I am a teacher and it is my job to understand lessons and how to create them, let me offer my professional services to you in helping to teach your daughter about these difficult times in our schools.
Lesson #1: Stand up to Bullies
Teachers are always striving to eliminate bulling in their classrooms. If a student is being bullied we try to help them stand up to that bully and stick up for themselves. This is an important lesson for our students. We need to lead by example and show them that we too will stand up when we are being bullied. We have been bullied into an unfair, unnegotiated contract.
Lesson #2: Stand up for what YOU think is right
Teachers with Ontario Secondary School Teachers Federation were NOT directed to take job action by the Federation. Teachers are looking at Bill 115 and taking a PERSONAL stand against this unconstitutional bill. This stand is taking the form of some teachers not volunteering for activities they had previously been involved in, activities that they enjoy, activities that they give time to freely and without additional compensation.
The union is in no position to give directives. These are individual teachers taking a stand against legislation that they believe is wrong. We need to teach students that standing up for a cause you believe in is difficult, but it is the right thing to do.
Lesson #3: The greater good
Sometimes we have look at the bigger picture. What will our education system look like down the road if we stand by and let this government demoralize teachers? What are the long term effects? What will the teaching profession look like? Will anyone WANT to be a teacher? Some times short-term pain equals long-term gain. I made the decision to withdraw from my extracurricular activities (Drama Club, Arts Council, School Play, School Assemblies) for my ‘students’, to fight for them to have the good education system and teachers that they deserve. I would also like to add that we too miss these activities. I love all of the events, clubs and performances that my students and I work on together. They know this is a difficult time for me and for many teachers that have made the difficult choice of taking a stand against this law. I have to look these students in the eye everyday and let them know that I have to do what is right for me, my profession, the education system and for democracy.
Lesson #4: What is democracy?
Some of the reasons why all Ontarians should be concerned about Bill115:
• The Labour Relations Board and any other arbitrators are prohibited from either inquiring into or making decisions about the constitutionality of the law or whether the law is in conflict with the Human Rights Code.
• The province can use the Labour Relations Act to enforce the new law, but the Labour Relations Act doesn’t apply if it conflicts with the new law.
• The courts are not allowed to be used to question or review any of the terms or conditions in the new law.
• No arbitration can over-ride any terms of the province’s stipulations for the contracts.
• Strikes and lock-outs during the two-year period the legislation currently covers are banned, and deemed unlawful, and it will be unlawful to even call for a strike, threaten a lock-out or encourage any employees to go on strike.
I hope this helps with some lessons you can share with your daughter. There are some lessons I would like to share with you as well, Mr. Editor.
Lesson # 1: I do not know where you got your information that an average teaching salary is $90,000. I had read $74,000. I am a teacher that is at the highest level of education with my honours specialist and I have 10 years of experience(12 years is the top of the grid) and I am not making even $74,000 (much of which goes to Benefits, Pension, Long Term Disability and Taxes -yes, I pay taxes too). Our local school boards top of the grid is $94, 656. Regardless of these numbers, teacher salaries are not the issue here. OSSTF brought a wage freeze to the Provincial Government and they TURNED IT DOWN. I know most teachers are willing to take a wage freeze. We understand it is a difficult economic time in Ontario.
Lesson # 2: Yes, we had 20 sick days. They have been in our contract since the 1930’s, due to the exposure to illnesses on a daily basis from many young children in our classrooms. Keep in mind we still have work to do when we are sick, in the form of lesson plans and accurate information to pass on to our supply teachers. Most teachers did not use these sick days, they banked them. We banked them for two reasons: 1) Teachers do not have a short-term disability plan. So teachers found out they have cancer or some other serious illnesses once they used up their 20 sick days could then use their banked days to support their family while they were away from work sick and waiting to apply for Long Term Disability(LTD) at 60days and to further wait another 30 days to hear if they are going to receive LTD. Presently, we have no short term disability and no banked days. There are 5 families in our board that are out of sick days as of Monday, September 17 and are unable to provide for their families for the following 80 days (approx. 3 months). Fortunately, our board is somewhat understanding to some of these cases and is following the MOU set out by the government and they are now receiving 66% of their salary before tax for 24 weeks, after that point they will not receive pay.
2) We banked days for a gratuity paid out at the end of our teaching career. This gratuity was negotiated with our employer and put in place to SAVE MONEY. Under the Labour Act employers must pay employees 4% vacation pay. Teachers do not receive the 4% vacation pay and negotiated instead to receive the gratuity from banked sick days (it also worked as an incentive to keep teachers from taking all their sick days). This saved the Government $8000.00 per teacher. Presently, we are receiving neither.
Lesson # 3: Teachers are not paid through the summer, our salary is pro-rated to be distributed evenly through out the year.
Lesson # 4: Don’t be a hypocrite. YOU are using your daughter as a pawn to pull on the heartstrings of your readers.
I am thrilled to see Tim’s response as it is exactly what was going through my head as I read this article from an individual who neither works in this field nor is properly educated on the facts. Despite what you read or see in the media that is being put on by the government, teachers are not fighting for everything, simply for our rights and respect. I have been having serious discussions with my husband about how to view extra curricular activities and until now thus has been my dilemma… Do I continue to do extra curriculars as the children deserve them or do I stop and support my fellow teachers? Tough decision to make and I was truly stuck on this. However upon reading this article by an Ill-informed individual, I have decided I will not be participating as it truly upsets me to see how many parents such as the one above EXPECT me to put in my time without getting payed for. Yes I believe students deserve these activities but do not believe for one second that I will take te away from my precious daughter for free because you feel yours deserves my time more.
What a silly opinion piece – the teachers who make $90 000 a year are still making it. It’s all the young teachers, making below the “Canadian household average” of 60 000 a year who moved back down the grid. Heaven forbid parents should be inconvenienced by the lack of sports in school. The teachers, EAs, custodians, and office staff are simply trying to ensure that there is a teaching profession intact for the next generation. I am a parent and have decided to make use of PEFAC while my children are unable to attend extracurricular a at school. I have enjoyed my turns at play dates and getting o know my child’s friends as they have a blast together. Perhaps, if people such as yourself supported an initiative and allowed people who work for a living stand up for their rights, our government wouldn’t feel so justified in trampling our Charter of Rights and Freedoms. When your child can’t find a good-paying job because the unions have been abolished and the middle class has been erased, you can remind her that those rights were given up for her – so she could run grade 4 Track.
Extracurriculars are volunteer activities…. extras… However, somehow they have become expected. My job is to teach the curriculum. I will continue to prepare great lessons for my students… which is my job!
I love what I do… I know we are very well compensated… Most teachers know this, which is why our Union said yes to a wage freeze back in the spring! Funny this is rarely mentioned. This is about the right to bargain with our employer (the Board). Read up on Bill 115, what teachers are protesting are the rights being stripped away. I cannot go on as though it is business as usual… we cannot strike…. we cannot bargain with our employer… what is left? My choice is to stop all the extras. It is sad that the kids are the ones missing out. I know this might sound mean, but it is my job and well being first… students do come after. I sure hope we get some resolution soon….
Editor’s note: Tim’s anger seems misdirected. It was Premier Dalton McGuinty who urged Ontario teachers to be happy with $90,000 as quoted in an Ottawa Citizen story on Sept. 3. According to the Ministry of Education the average elementary school teacher salary in Ontario today is $80,392 and the average salary earned by high school teachers is $83, 543. With the wage increases on offer, the average elementary school teacher’s salary will rise to 90,481. My references to salary were in relation to Ontario—not the County.
Readers can judge for themselves the merit of Tim’s other assertions.
You’re wrong.
Please do some research and gather accurate information before you publish false information. Printing false information because you are unaware of the facts is simply ignorance, printing false information when you know the facts is lying. So, my question to you is; are you ignorant or a liar?
First, let’s start with the matter of salary. You state that teachers in the county have an average salary of $90,000. Some common sense and a simple Google search would allow you to stumble onto the HPEDSB website and the index of collective bargaining documents. Ok, it might be ignorance, so here you go:
http://www.hpedsb.on.ca/ec/services/hrss/collectiveAgreements.html
2008-2012 Collective Agreement for Elementary Teachers (pdf) reference charts on pages 11-12
2008-2012 Collective Agreement for Secondary Teachers (pdf) reference charts on pages 25-26
To understand the charts and how teachers are compensated, you should do another Google search for “QECO Rating”. Ok, again, probably too hard for you. Go here:
http://www.qeco.on.ca/qeco/download/program5.pdf
Doing some simple math, it is easy to see that not all teachers have been teaching for 11 years with the school board and not all of them are a category 4. Again, only teachers who have been teaching for 11 years, hold two degrees and a specialist qualify to make $90,000 or more. In fact, many of the teachers are making under $60,000 per year.
Second, teachers don’t have three months of holidays every year. This could be considered “sensationalism” on your part, given your medium. I won’t call you a liar on this one. Teachers are paid for the days that they work and the instructional hours that they put in for the school year. Their employer, the school board, keeps a percentage of their salary from each pay check during the school year to pay the teachers over the summer session when the schools are closed. This means that teachers leaving the school board at the end of the school year would be owed their remaining pay and could request, their remaining salary in a lump sum payment. The time that they have off in the summer is not paid; it is simply covered by their work through the school year.
Now, let us talk about the banked sick days… These are actually the vacation days that everyone else gets simply for working. The law provides for 4% of pay per year. This is where the government wants you to think that they are being fair, but in fact they are simply taking away teachers’ vacation pay and bankable vacation days.
As for your nine year old, you could explain to her that teachers are being denied their constitutional rights guaranteed under section 2 (d) of the Charter of Rights and Freedoms and it is important for them to take a stand to protect the rights of all workers, today and in the future. If the government can legislate away this right because it is convenient, what is next? Freedom of the press? Will you be concerned then?
Until this issue is resolved, why don’t you volunteer to coach and host the cross-country meet? If you decide not to, maybe you could explain to your daugher and your reads why.
I would gladly have my employer keep back some of my wages and pay me for having two months off still getting the wages teachers do ( I know that teachers are always doing prep. work and not ALL summer is a vacation but lets face it, I would much rather be doing work on my deck at 9 in the monring having my coffee then at the office).
and not sure who everyone else works for but not everyone gets “sick days” to just take if we are sick… you take a day off and don’t get paid. I have no problem what ppl do with their sick days but my god don’t complain because you get them and now you can’t bank them…. just ridiculous!!! just be glad that you can get them in your line of work!!! being that the kids are so important and that teachers like to look after their kids you would think a teacher would not want anyone else teaching their class unless necessary!!!
I really have no say with what is going on since I am not a Teacher, but I do have teachers in the family! but just like everyone else in the world YES you have to work more and get more diploma’s or certificates to make more money, so that part of the system seems correct to me!
In the end to me Teachers sit there and fight, fight, fight for their rights but the kids don’t get theirs. Instead of being the ADULTS and showing a good example for the kids( since that is why teachers preach that they should get everything they want, because they do everything for the kids) about this everyone is fighting for rights that most don’t get anyway and you have been privileaged to get!!!!!!!!! We all would like something changed about our jobs or how the government works… we still live our lives day to day same as every other day though while we do it!
I would argue that if there’s something you don’t like about your job, it is your right to ask that it change. Teachers fight for their rights because they earned them in the first place. Why would you demand that the teachers lower their expectations? Why don’t you raise your own?
Teachers are not preaching. They are defending themselves. Just because they believe something you do not, does not make it preaching – no matter how many exclamation marks you add to your comments!!!!!! Teachers don’t need to put their students first. That’s their parents’ jobs. Teachers should have the right to fight for themselves, their livelihood, and their own children. It’s ridiculous to suggest that teachers asking for sick days somehow proves that they don’t care about their students. Come on – it’s a career, not a life. Get real. The students will have their chance to fight for good pay and benefits soon enough, though if this sort of sweeping legislature stands, there won’t be many rights to fight for. Right now, teachers have the right to stand up for themselves, whether you agree with them or not. I’m happy for you that you have low enough standards that you’re willing to accept scraps from your employer. Not everyone is.
Quit sending your sick kids to school because you have to work and we won’t need nearly as many sick days. Parents send me letters all the time saying so and so is sick today. If you have to call me to come and pick them up here is my number. Within a week everyone in the class has the same ailment as well as the teacher.