Ontario Teachers Are Wearing Black Today To Protest Ford's Province-Wide Education Cuts
If you happen to see a bunch of teachers wearing black today, it isn't because it's the most slimming colour. Teachers and their supports are wearing black across Ontario today in protest of the Ford government's recent announcement about province-wide education cuts.
Last week, Minister of Education Lisa Thompson unveiled the province's plan for an educational reform. The proposed changes include increasing class sizes and revising the sex-ed curriculum, among numerous other modifications.
READ ALSO: Ontario Government Increases The Number Of High School Students Per Class
Teachers across Ontario have voiced their concerns regarding the proposed changes, and education allies are demonstrating their support by standing in solidarity with teachers.
Friday morning, Ontario Education Minister Lisa Thompson made an announcement on behalf of the PC government revealing that the average Ontario class size in high schools will be officially increasing from 22 students per teacher to 28 students per teacher.
According to Minister Thompson, although existing caps on class sizes from Kindergarten to Grade 3 will not be affected by the change, Grades 4 to 8 will also see a new average class size of 24.5 students per teacher.
"We know not everyone will agree with every single part of our plan but Premier Ford and our PC government have a mandate to govern and a mandate to lead," Thompson reportedly said in her announcement.
She explained in a press release that, "Our older and more mature students in high school will see the most change with class sizes increasing to 28. These changes are evidence-based and it is important to know that Ontario has an extremely low teacher to pupil ratio in its system."
Take a look at some of the Ontario teachers and educational supports taking a stand against the recent changes across the province today:
Unions encouraging Ontario's teachers to wear black today. It's part of a protest against the Ontario Government's proposed changes to classrooms/curriculum. #ottnews pic.twitter.com/ys3LcBpyw0
For Ontario teachers it has been a March Break unlike many others. To our Grand Erie Educators, Thank you for all that you have done on this break to fight for our schools, our students, and our profession. YOU ARE AMAZING! Have a great day back. Do it dressed in black. pic.twitter.com/k3WXiWxOrl
To all Ontario Teachers- please wear black tomorrow. pic.twitter.com/eJGmNoTVJS
I am a teacher. I support my students. Today I’m wearing black in protest of the changes being made to education in Ontario because they will hurt students. These changes are not research based & kids are going to suffer. #itsnotOK #iamateacher #isupportstudents #etfo @fordnation
That’s Great.I am not a teacher but wearing black today to protect my grandchildren from future erosion of the Educational System in Ontario.
Wearing black to show solidarity with all members of the education field in Ontario. These cuts will be devastating to all students, teachers, EAs, and the entire school community. We will not go down without a fight! #NoCutstoEducation #osstf #BackinBlack #CutsHurtKids pic.twitter.com/S6PQCvqyhf
#CatholicTeachers – teachers across the province – are wearing black in school today to show their concern about the cuts to education in Ontario. @BishopSmithCH #onted #cdned #cutshurtkids #forwardnotbackward pic.twitter.com/RT95mlXQwT