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The Retired Women Teachers of Ontario (RWTO) is weighing in on
the issue of poor communication between the Bluewater District
School Board and the parents and students in its schools.
At the spring meeting of the South Bruce Branch, held at Ainsdale
Golf Course last week, Bev Harris said members of the RWTO should be
contacting the school board, as well as local MPPs and making their
concerns known.
"The board administration and trustees are not listening to the
parents and students about the reduction of rotary in Grades 7 and
8," said Harris, referring to a controversial decision by the board
to reduce rotary and dispense with specialized teachers, without
consulting parent organizations such as the School Community
Councils and Home and School Associations. The Ontario minister of
education has been brought in and a review is under way, regarding
communication problems.
"The board did not consult with these parents' groups and they're
not listening to them now," said Harris. "We need to do something.
We were there. We taught in those schools."
She said Hillcrest Public School in Owen Sound was used as a pilot
project for reducing rotary, "however, if you check the timetable at
that school now, they're going back to rotary, but they're not
allowing it here."
She said there have been letters to the editor from retired teachers
who quit because of changes to rotary education and the switch to
homeroom teachers instructing all subjects, rather than the use of
specialized teachers.
"I taught all subjects when I was a teacher," said Harris. "I had no
training in science but I had to teach that subject. I would have
been unable to do that without the help of my husband who was a high
school science teacher." (next column)
23/04/2009 11:41 PM
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Harris included the following list of contacts for members to send
letters and E-mails, voicing their concerns about the issue:
- Trustees (there is an underscore "_" between the first and last
names of the addresses) -
jennifer_yenssen@bwdsb.on.ca;
ross_king@bwdsb.on.ca; marg_gaviller@bwdsb.on.ca; marilyn_mccomb@bwdsb.on.ca;
John_Chapman@bwdsb.on.ca; jan_johnstone@bwdsb.on.ca; Tim_Reaburn@bwdsb.on.ca; cindy_aitken@bwdsb.on.ca; gail_nadjiwon@bwdsb.on.ca; theresa_root@bwdsb.on.ca.
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