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The absolute maximum a teacher could spend in the classroom teaching each day is 5 hours, most teach less than four hours a day.

Not bad for $92,000 a year, three months off and retiring at 59.

But, but, but!

We are told this strike is actually about class size and online courses. Partly true, but even these issues are about money, for the teachers’ union.

The Ford government has promised to leave class sizes alone from kindergarten to Grade 3, they added an average of one student per class for Grades 4 through 8 bringing that average class size up to 24.5 students.

Only in high school are they proposing to increase the average class size, over four years, from 22 to 25. As for online courses, students entering Grade 9 next September would be expected to complete two online courses by the time they graduate Grade 12.

The teachers don’t like this because it will mean fewer teacher positions and fewer union members paying dues. Will your child really notice an average class size of 25 versus 22? We are preparing these students to go on to college or university — or the workplace — where they will encounter classes with more than 22 students or workplaces with more than 22 employees.

As for online courses, that is the reality of the world today. I’m required, as HR keeps reminding me, to complete online courses for my job. My oldest daughter, currently in Grade 12, was required to complete online training for a job at a fast food restaurant.

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The teachers union is attempting to scare parents about these changes, and they are spending big to do it.

The OSSTF has spent $336,389 on Facebook ads alone attacking the Ford government since June. They spent $40,757 just last week. In the last 30 days, the OSSTF has outspent brands like Telus and Nespresso to be the biggest Canadian advertiser on Facebook to spread this fear.

The teachers unions want more money, bigger benefits and less work, meaning they want you to pay. It’s time for the government to give teachers a simple message in response to their demands — no.

blilley@postmedia.com