Consultation and collaboration

Schools work best when the government listens to and respects educators’ expertise.

Ontario’s teachers are trained, certified professionals with expertise and experience in delivering curriculum, managing classrooms, and evaluating student progress. Teachers have a practical understanding of how schools operate and what is needed for students to learn and grow.

And yet, government policies and initiatives don’t respect teachers’ professional judgment. For example, curriculum updates are announced without any prior consultation with, or training for, the teachers who will have to deliver the curriculum; school reopening and COVID-19 management plans are made without input from classroom teachers; and valuable time, energy, and resources continue to be wasted on things like standardized testing.

Frontline education experts shouldn’t be ignored

  • Quality student-teacher interactions mean better schools.
  • As international research demonstrates, schools work best when there is a collaborative, collegial, and professional relationship between policymakers and teachers. There may not always be agreement, but when the government works with teachers, it means better outcomes for all students.

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