The government’s plan to impose mandatory e-learning is a ‘terrible idea’ that will affect students who are already struggling the most.
all e-learning courses,” it raises the question, will it even be Ontario-certified teachers teaching e-learning courses? Without answers to these questions, we could be well on the road to an American-style attempt to privatize teaching and credit delivery in Ontario’s public education system. As teachers, we know that one-size-fits-all models do not work for all students, and that they inadvertently end up harming vulnerable students the most. Blended learning environments that incorporate differentiated learning methods are best for all students. As teachers, we know that it’s the unplanned opportunities, the “teachable moments,” where we seize the
opportunity to offer insight to our students that real organic learning happens. These are the moments that teachers and students thrive on, and the moments that make learning come to life. These moments are about connection and community, collaboration and accountability, in the safety of a supervised classroom led by an Ontario-certified teacher. If public education is to remain Ontario’s great equalizer, the inequity of e-learning could be its biggest challenge. Liz Stuart is President of the Ontario English Catholic Teachers’ Association.
JUNE 2019 | CATHOLIC TEACHER 11