August 25, 2008
Το: Kathleen Wynne
The Minister of Education
for the Province of Ontario, Canada
Ms Wynne,
It has come to my attention that a number of graduates of the Master of Education programmes around the province have, at this late date, not received offers of employment for the school year beginning one week from today.
Among these very well educated, energetic, enthusiastic, unemployed, young graduates is a former student of mine, an Ontario Scholar and valedictorian who was the recipient of a number of scholarships throughout her university career. She graduated with top honours and received awards for her student teaching. In the process of acquiring two post degree Specialist diplomas she developed innovative techniques for working with newly arrived, non-English-speaking children and their families who had suffered the trauma of war in their native countries. She received recognition for that as well.
The only possible reason that such a talented and dedicated young teacher could have been overlooked by every board in this province and remain unemployed while other, lesser qualified new teachers have been offered placement, is that she, with her multiple degrees and diplomas is considered too expensive, too highly placed on the pay scale.
Ms. Wynne, when you ran for office you did so with the stated purpose of renewing an education system that had been virtually destroyed by the previous government. You knew that among other things the so-called funding formula left boards and schools without the resources to hire competent, qualified teaching staff. One of your personal pledges was to rectify this situation. In fact on more than one occasion I heard you promise to rescind the unworkable funding formula and replace it with funding that would let every child flourish in schools equipped and staffed with the best.
Clearly that was election rhetoric. Through two terms of office you have taken only token steps to improve the abysmal state of our schools and the miserable situation of our students. You have proven by your inaction that education is not the true aim of your Ministry, but that you intend only to warehouse our children and youth while actively curbing their thirst for learning.
It is utterly without reason for a Ministry charged with the education of the young to let such talent and enthusiasm as my former student has demonstrated go to waste. That you have failed to meet the needs of students by hiring the best teachers available, (and in many other ways), for the past seven years demonstrates indifference, incompetence, and ill-intent. You and your bureaucrats must tender your resignations, effective immediately.
Natalie Walker Millman, M.Ed.
Master of Education
Education Specialist in Learning Disabilities and Education for the Gifted