Elementary school teachers may have crossed line, Cohn, Feb. 4

Martin Regg Cohn’s criticism of the Elementary Teachers’ Federation of Ontario (EFTO) is unwarranted and unjustified.

Elementary schooling is seriously affected by the cuts and class changes, as well as the mandated changes to conditions for teachers. They, too, will have their income reduced in real terms.

The education of children is, or should be, one seamless journey, so the transition to high school is not relevant. It is one system and the staffing is all in it together.

The Ford government is inflicting harm that will hinder this generation of children for their entire lives and it requires all to band together to deny him.

This is an issue for parents more than it is for teachers and they should be, en masse, telling Premier Doug Ford that he will not impose his nightmare vision on their children.

John Peate, Courtice

Martin Regg Cohn’s piece neglects to mention two crucial issues that led to the breakdown of talks between ETFO and the government.

In a last-minute move, the government attempted to introduce cuts to special education programs, an area already woefully in need of more support.

It also tried to claw back hiring rules that were put in place to try to stop nepotism in the hiring of supply positions. Teaching positions are challenging to attain. Precarious employment rules the day.

A few years ago I saw a principal who tried to install their child in a long-term position, even though they had just graduated and were not eligible. Only the application of fair hiring prevented this.

And yet, this government, which has shown its willingness to hire unqualified “friends,” wants to re-establish this kind of nepotism in education. Why?

Not small issues. Yet Cohn failed to mention either, and therefore failed to paint an accurate picture of the situation.

Ken Durkacz, Hamilton

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