The winter issue of Voice focuses on the ways in which we make change – not just individually but systemically – that is more permanent and structural. In our cover story, Simcoe County teacher Rosemary Renton recounts how her school in the north end of Barrie fought poverty. By building their community, actively involving students and their families, and making systemic change that included a breakfast and lunch program and clothing exchange they transformed their school. “The lesson that we learned is that the more we build community, the more we build success,” Renton writes. In our second feature, Vera Teschow reflects on her year teaching math “outside the textbook,” developing her own lessons based on the needs and composition of her class. Read about how her Smart Board came in handy on page 26.
The importance of fair and equitable systems is addressed in this issue’s message from President Sam Hammond. “Free and fair collective bargaining,” he writes, “ensures not only the rights of our members, but strengthens the rights of all Ontarians today and into the future. It ensures that a democratic process for negotiating the conditions in our workplaces is maintained in the education sector and beyond.”
Considering the importance of healthy schools and classrooms and responding to the Ministry of Education’s publication Building the Next Phase of Ontario’s Education Strategy, Vivian McCaffrey outlines ETFO’s vision for education reform in her article Building Better Schools. Also in this issue Amy Dow McLaren writes about an exciting program that facilitates students collaboratively writing children’s books, with proceeds that go to educational programming in developing countries.
These features, along with Research for Teachers, a Sage Advice column for OTs, a curriculum insert on teaching through the arts with a focus on poverty, great reviews, and this winter’s crossword puzzle, are sure to make great holiday reading.
Have a happy holiday season and remember to stay in touch with ETFO Voice on Facebook and etfovoice.ca!
