“Inclusive education
seeks to provide
a welcoming
environment for
all students, not
by ignoring gender,
race, disability, or
sexual identities,
but by recognizing
and validating
difference.”
Heather-Jane
Robertson
ETFO Provincial: Services Areas
For administrative purposes ETFO programs are organized into five service areas - Equity and Women’s
Services, Communications and Political Action, Professional Development/Learning, Professional
Relations Services, and Collective Bargaining. What follows are brief descriptions of the major programs
and services offered to members.
Equity and Women’s Services (EWS)
ETFO is a leader among education unions on equity issues, particularly in its support for women’s
participation and leadership. There are designated positions for women on the ETFO Executive (5 of
14 positions), and constitutional guarantees that programs for women will be provided, with funding
allocated for this purpose. These programs offer direct services to women members through courses,
workshops, awards, and publications. Funding is also available to establish provincial and local
partnerships with other organizations and to support groups that advance the status of women and
women’s issues in society.
ETFO’s equity and women’s programs are offered in the context of the Federation’s constitutional object
“to foster a climate of social justice in Ontario and continue a leadership role in such areas as anti-
poverty, non-violence, and equity,” and in the spirit of the statement and definition of equity adopted by
the ETFO Executive:
It is the goal of the Elementary Teachers’ Federation of Ontario to work with others to create
schools, communities and a society free from all forms of individual and systemic discrimination .
To further this goal, ETFO defines equity as fairness achieved through proactive measures which
result in equality, promote diversity, foster respect and dignity for all .
Work incorporating these principles spans all service areas of ETFO. The particular issues of women
members, Aboriginal members, racialized members, members with disabilities, and lesbian, gay,
bisexual, and transgender members are included in women’s programs, addressed through standing
committees, and explored through a range of other equity programs. Issues of poverty and classism are
addressed throughout.
Some of the ongoing programs and initiatives offered through Equity and Women’s Services include:
O An annual women’s leadership conference, ... and still we rise, held in February;
O Leaders for Tomorrow: leadership training for diverse women;
O Workshops for teachers addressing a variety of equity issues including in-service sessions for the
ETFO social justice focused curriculum resources;
O Workshops on disabilities and accommodation issues offered to locals;
O Workshops on confronting homophobia, and other exclusionary practices;
O Introduction of equity issues to pre-service teachers;
O Sisters in the struggle: Six day advanced leadership training for women leaders.
91
WELCOME TO THE
ELEMENTARY TEACHERS’ FEDERATION OF ONTARIO
2014-2015
91 of 116
CONTENTS
ENTER/EXIT FULL SCREEN