Teacher deal remains divisive

Re: Nobody’s right and students come last, Jan. 4. So, we teachers are supposed to scurry back to work as usual, because the “lightning rod” of Bill 115 might be removed, with our tails between our legs. (Education Minister Laurel Broten’s apparent take on the situation.)

Columnist Kelly Egan seems to believe that, since the students have suffered the lack of a “wellrounded” education, teachers should merrily go back to an extra load of unpaid work, which is only acknowledged when withdrawn.

All members of the education sector are waiting for the next hit.

Teachers have been lied about, portrayed as whining scum, and now had a blatantly unfair “collective agreement” imposed on them, and they are just supposed to go back to business as usual?

Sorry, but I did not see the words “martyr” or “saint” in my contract. Those words are not on my Ontario College of Teachers certificate either.

If the provincial government had any respect for the people they employ, they would have realized that the hammer was not needed. Last year, all that was needed would have been the invitation to help the government find efficiencies that would work in the best interests of all — save money for the government, and treat the teachers like adult human beings. But, when people are poked with a big stick, they go into defence mode.

The minister had the option to treat the education sector with some respect. It would have produced much happier results.

ELEANOR ABRA,

Ottawa