Government launches curriculum consultation

the goals of education should, through the expansion of knowledge, enhance the student’s ability to:

7.1.2.2

use mathematical skills with confidence in practical situations ;

7.1.2.3

use science and technology to gain access to information and make decisions;

It is the policy of OSSTF that:

7.14.1.

skills training should be developed within the context of the goals of education in Ontario;

7.14.2.

skills training programs should:

7.14.2.1.

be open to all students;

7.14.2.2.

be designed to embody the generic skills built into the regular school program;

7.14.2.3.

incorporate information that enables the trainees to work safely;

7.14.2.4.

incorporate information to help trainees understand their rights both individually and collectively; and

7.14.2.5.

flow from teacher-based identification of skills needs, and should be developed in conjunction with labour as well as with employers or consultants;

7.14.3.

skills training programs appropriate for the age and developmental level of the trainees should be offered through public secondary schools; and

7.14.4.

school workplace apprenticeship programs should be designed so that:

7.14.4.1.

successful graduates have the same options available to them as do graduates of the regular program;

7.14.4.2.

they have additional options which result from completing a considerable portion of an apprenticeship program; and

7.14.4.3.

they allow for the easy transition of students to and from the regular program.

It is the policy of OSSTF that:

7.6.1.

province-wide, system-wide, or international tests should not be used in the supervision or evaluation of teachers or to compare schools and/or district school boards;

7.6.2.

there should be no reintroduction of public, province-wide exit examinations;

7.6.3.

student assessment instruments should be developed by the Ministry of Education and/or district school boards in collaboration with the teaching federations during all stages of planning, development, implementation and review;

7.6.4.

if province-wide or system-wide tests are used, then they should:

7.6.4.1.

take into account the diversity of the student population in Ontario;

7.6.4.2.

be based on curriculum objectives;

7.6.4.3.

be used to make recommendations to improve student achievement;

7.6.4.4.

be used to make recommendations to improve teaching strategies and/or modify program;

7.6.4.5.

be free from discriminatory bias;

7.6.4.6.

be reported to the student and parent by appropriate personnel who have access to pertinent printed information;

7.6.4.7.

be accompanied by current information useful in interpreting scores from test programs;

7.6.4.8.

employ a transparent and consistent passing standard, which is similar to that required for any secondary school credit, and which is established and released prior to the administration of the test; and

7.6.4.9.

have their design and evaluation procedures clearly and concisely explained to all members of the education community, including parents and students;

7.6.5.

the classroom teacher should be the primary assessor/evaluator of student progress;

7.6.6.

any assessment/evaluation strategy should be of benefit to the students;

7.6.7.

student assessment/evaluation should be a significant aspect of the learning process;

7.6.8.

students should be assessed and evaluated through a variety of written and non-written strategies;

7.6.9.

information from provincial standardized testing should not identify any student by class section or teacher;

7.6.10.

OSSTF opposes, in principle, the use of the Blended Mode Assessment Process imposed unilaterally by any employer;

7.6.11.

employers should accept zero as a mark when teachers, in their professional judgment, believe this is the appropriate mark;

7.6.12.

members should be allowed to use the assessment tools that, in their professional judgment, best meet the needs of their students and Ministry reporting requirements;

7.6.13.

teachers should only be required to complete report cards twice per course, as outlined by the Ministry of Education;

7.6.14.

the Ministry Identification Number of the Ontario Secondary School that grants each credit should be shown on the Ontario Student Transcript;

7.6.15.

province-wide or system-wide testing should not be administered in a format that disadvantages any students or limits them from full participation; and

7.6.16.

no Member should be required to use EQAO assessment as any part of a student’s final mark.

10.8. Education Quality and Accountability Office

It is the policy of OSSTF that:

10.8.1.

the Education Quality and Accountability Office and its testing program should be abolished and that the savings should be allocated to the province’s elementary and secondary public schools.

7.3.1.3

includes a clear vision of student outcomes for both students leaving school to enter the workforce directly and students proceeding to post-secondary education;

7.5.16

where computers and other digital technology should, according to the member’s professional judgment, be an integral part of the instruction, assessment and evaluation process that:

7.5.16.3

the employer should ensure that all students have access to the technology required to fulfill the expectations of all curriculum programs in such a way that neither students nor OSSTF members are disadvantaged.

7.1.2.8

assume responsibility for a healthy life style;

7.1.2.11

understand and challenge human rights violations such as sexism, racism, homophobia and harassment and other forms of such injustice including violence;