LEARNING IN ONTARIO
Gerard Kennedy, Minister of Education Statement to the Legislative Assembly
Introduction of An Act to Amend the Ontario College of Teachers' Act, 1996
May 13, 2004
Mr. Speaker, I rise today to speak to legislation that will improve the work environment, morale and, ultimately, the ongoing professional development of Ontario teachers.
On April 22nd, Premier McGuinty outlined our government's plan for dramatic improvement in public education.
Our plan is based on the firm belief that Ontario's public education system can and must deliver excellence for all students. The future of our students and of our province depends on it.
We can only stop the slide that has been allowed to occur in our publicly funded schools if we take responsibility for the success and well-being of everyone who works in them.
An education system that aspires to unlock the potential of every student has to be a system that in turn unlocks the potential of the teachers and other education workers within it.
The McGuinty government will take responsibility for teacher excellence, Mr. Speaker. A key difference between this government and its immediate predecessor is that we believe teachers want excellence just as much as we do.
Our policy is one of respect for teachers as professionals: individuals who conduct themselves in a manner that deserves the public trust.
Every Ontario student needs and deserves highly trained and highly motivated people at the front of their classes.
Today's legislation is an important prelude to ensuring that, by bringing long overdue respect and relief to the classroom teacher in Ontario. This bill does one simple, but necessary thing – it eliminates a hugely flawed, punitive approach of the previous government towards the teaching profession in the form of its Professional Learning Program or "PLP".
This program, also known as the so-called "teacher-testing program" was brought into place four years ago as part of the previous government's divisive approach towards Ontario's teachers in public schools. Rather than motivate our teachers, they took out partisan advertising. Rather than work with teachers, the government made them a target.
The PLP policy was a policy of conflict from the beginning. It originated as a previous government election promise for "teacher testing" in 1999 to prey on public concerns about the quality of education.
Instead, this became the most centralized, bureaucratic and overly prescriptive program of professional development to be found anywhere. Teachers were ordered to complete 14 courses over five-years, only from centrally approved courses and providers, or the Ontario College of Teachers - created by the government – would take away their teaching privileges and certificate.
Recommendations provided by the College of Teachers at the time were overruled and its independence trampled upon. This served to alienate the college from its membership.
Since it was imposed in 2001, the PLP program has been an enormous failure in practise.
By September 2003, less than one in five teachers had registered for even one course of the official program, let alone the 5 or 6 they should have by then to reach the compulsory number.
The PLP program has cost the Ontario College of Teachers approximately $10 million, paid for by additional annual fees levied on individual teachers.
While dollar cost is just one measure, Mr. Speaker, the amount of discouragement that the PLP policy has generated among Ontario teachers is much greater.
A study released two weeks ago cited the rate of depression among Ontario teachers as indicative of "toxic workplaces," with incidences one-third above other workplaces, and long-term disability rates doubling since 1993.
According to the College of Teachers, we have been losing one in three new teachers within the first five years of practise.
Ultimately, the previous government only succeeded at one thing – disenfranchising an entire profession and undermining one of our provinces most valuable resources – its teachers.
Mr. Speaker, we're going to fix that.
We are taking a new, respectful approach to teachers' professional development.
What matters most is that teachers get the training and development they need in a timely fashion.
Today, I am proud to introduce legislation to repeal the divisive Professional Learning Program and formally end an era of disrespect toward teachers.
Today, we will renew our commitment to peace and stability in Ontario's public education system so that we can provide the best education possible to our students.
The Ministry of Education will soon release a discussion paper outlining approaches to teacher excellence that will tap into the best our teachers have to offer.
We will collaborate with teachers, as well as our principals, school boards and faculties of education and will gather input from parents, students and others to help ensure a framework for meaningful professional development.
Some of the approaches that will be considered are:
- Innovative mentoring programs for new teachers by more experienced teachers;
- Increased professional development days;
- Enhanced summer development program opportunities;
- Evaluating the link between teacher performance appraisals and development; and
- Funding for teacher development.
In closing Mr. Speaker, I want to be clear.
We already have tremendous, outstanding teachers in this province. As Minister of Education, on behalf of this government, I want to express our appreciation to them for the selfless work they are doing on behalf of our children and young adults.
Further, I say to members of the public that Ontario's teachers are professionals who have by definition some of the keenest appreciation for the value of continuous learning.
While we have lost ground in this province as the result of the PLP on working together on teacher development, this house should know that Ontario teachers continue to take courses and upgrade their skills outside of the PLP framework.
I am confident that Ontario teachers are very prepared to engage their responsibility for self-development. In this, as in other areas, our government will treat them with the professional respect they deserve.
We believe that teaching is more than a profession. It is one of the highest callings and a matter of public service.
The Professional Learning Program Cancellation Act, 2004 recognizes our teachers as the dedicated professionals they are.
I ask all members to join me in supporting this bill.
Thank you.
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