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In the early 1990s, when I was preparing to become a teacher, I had many conversations about education and democracy, with professors as well as the teachers who supervised me on practicum. We underscored, not debated, the responsibilities of the state to ensure quality public education for all. We examined case studies and almost took for granted that publicly funded public education was part of the fabric of this nation. We were to be the stewards of equality. We would invite, expect and support critical thinking, while nurturing knowledge and skills, and fostering inclusion and respect for all. Although guiding students to graduation was an important objective, our real aim was to help develop citizens who would continue contributing to communities, this country and the world.
Now, over 25 years later, colleagues at the Canadian Teachers’ Federation (CTF) and I discuss the inextricable link between education and democracy with a new imperative. We also have these conversations with federal, provincial and territorial government leaders and, more often than not, there is unanimous acceptance of the fundamental role education plays in shaping and sustaining democracies. Frequently, assertions like the following are made by high-level government officials:
- Education is the backbone of a strong democracy.
- Education is a common good.
- Quality education is fundamental to who we are as a people.
Taken at face value, such statements suggest an unwavering commitment to publicly funded public education and an understanding of the vital link between education and democracy. Yet, from coast to coast to coast, the CTF is seeing an increasing erosion of publicly funded public education guised in the false rhetoric of educational personalization, building resiliency and more, which is really code for the privatization of our public education systems.
If parents, citizens who cast ballots and pay taxes, become scared that the public system will fail their children, more of those who can afford private options will abandon the public system, not just by withdrawing their children but also, in many cases, by ceasing to support education as a public good. If that occurs, if we dismantle quality inclusive public education in this country, we are, in fact, striding towards dismantling our democracy.
If that sounds like hyperbole, please think again. In recent months alone, governments across this country have attacked publicly funded public education and eroded democracy in multiple ways.
In New Brunswick, as well as elsewhere, classroom size and composition have been issues, and the New Brunswick Teachers’ Association has been vocal about having proper supports and funding for effective inclusion. In a story by the CBC in March 2019, one of the options offered to “ease the inclusion strain” was to open more private schools and offer subsidized tuition for students — effectively taking away money from the public system to solve the system’s problem.
In Saskatchewan, an increasing number of teachers are paying to subsidize classrooms with supplies (this is echoed in other areas in the country as well).
The funding structure in Manitoba is changing, with a 10-year plan to phase out local tax-based funding and using other bases to fund public education.
Most recently, in Alberta, the word “public” has been taken out of publicly funded public education; school boards have pre-emptively cut funding to be prepared for government changes; and the cap on charter schools is being increased significantly.
In Ontario, students are bracing for a reduction in the number of teachers and courses (at the secondary level), significantly increased class sizes, and mandatory e-learning (for grades 9–12) for large numbers of students and, as of yet, no confirmation that the courses will be taught by qualified teachers.
Viewed individually, the above structural changes to education systems are undeniably problematic. Considered collectively, they are cause for alarm as they point to a pattern of governments underfunding public systems to the point of creating a crisis such that private, noninclusive and undemocratic “solutions” emerge. If you stop for a minute and really imagine a Canada 15 or 20 years hence, where quality inclusive publicly funded public education has ceased to be the norm, the images are those of a failed democracy.
We must put aside partisan politics, individual gain and corporate profit to write a future of Canada that we would be proud to read, a history in which our publicly funded public education systems are of the very best quality and the most inclusive in the world. If we do that, our democracy is safer and the lives of future generations much better. If we do not, too much will be lost. Rather than giving into fear, now is a time to fight for what we believe in. ❚
Cassie Hallett is secretary general of the Canadian Teachers’ Federation.
