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Simcoe County teachers don #RedforEd to show solidarity

‘Students, teachers and all education workers are at the end of their rope,’ said local president of teacher union
2021-03-15 MacDonald JO-001
Kent MacDonald, president of the Simcoe Muskoka branch of OECTA representing elementary teachers, posted this photo to Twitter on Monday to show solidarity with teachers.

When dropping your child off at school today, you may have noticed their teacher wearing red.

A peaceful protest is taking place in schools across Simcoe County and Ontario this week, where educators are wearing red to draw attention to their opposition to March Break being postponed, as well as raise awareness about the challenges still being faced in education.

“It really is a show of solidarity for all educators. Now, in the pandemic, it’s an opportunity for us to... call on the Ford government that their actions and inaction during the pandemic are problematic,” said Allyn Janicki, president of the Simcoe Muskoka branch of OECTA (Ontario English Catholic Teachers' Association) representing secondary teachers.

“This would have been March Break. Students, teachers and all education workers are at the end of their rope. The pressures the system is currently facing are unsustainable. Now, we’re looking at a spring break that is four weeks from now and people are holding on by a thread,” she said.

Janicki said the goal is to try to build momentum among members during a time when they can’t congregate in person.

“It’s to try to bolster some morale and communicate with the broader public that educators are united as always in making sure schools are safe for themselves and students,” she said.

The #RedforEd hashtag started last year during education union negotiations with the province.

On Feb. 11, Minister of Education Stephen Lecce announced that March Break would be postponed to April 12 to 16 citing public health advice as the reasoning behind his decision. Education unions across the province followed his announcement the same day with a letter slamming the move.

“Public education is still not being given the supports it needs,” said Jen Hare, Ontario Secondary School Teachers' Federation (OSSTF) bargaining unit president for Simcoe County.

Hare says rapid testing still isn’t being done in schools locally, as the asymptomatic testing clinics that have been set up are using PCR testing through the Ministry of Education. Hare says those tests aren’t enough to provide a complete picture.

“We still don’t really know what COVID-19 looks like in our schools,” she said.

Hare notes that private schools are still on March Break this week.

“We really needed a boost,” she said. “This has been a long haul for us and we wanted to take a stand and remind everyone we want a safe, inclusive and welcoming environment. We will not be ignored.”

Kent MacDonald is president of the Simcoe Muskoka branch of OECTA representing elementary teachers. He says mental health is an issue he’s hearing a lot about from his members, although he clarifies there hasn’t been an increase in absences due to mental health concerns of which he’s aware.

“In terms of inquiring... there’s been a massive uptick,” he said. “People are hanging on and are wondering what their options are to take some time away to get better. Mental health is on the forefront, but I wonder if there are enough (resources) there for them to access.”

While the spring break is still four weeks away, MacDonald is receiving questions from teachers asking if that break may be pushed back as well.

“There is that constant question from members: Are we still going to have it? The answer is, we don’t know,” said MacDonald. “Teachers are very deflated. They try not to show that to their students, but there is a breaking point.”

“The break was necessary for teachers and students. There are diminishing returns. I don’t think you can keep on pushing the students. They may need to take a step back and recharge as well,” he said.


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Jessica Owen

About the Author: Jessica Owen

Jessica Owen is an experienced journalist working for Village Media since 2018, primarily covering Collingwood and education.
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