Issue 14

Thank you for establishing your private account in the Members' Area of the Ontario College of Teachers' web site and for your interest in receiving breaking news and professional information from the College.

In this Issue:

• Standards Review: What Does It Mean to be a Teacher?
• College Council Launches Review on College Governance
• Elementary Teachers' Opportunity

Standards Review: What Does It Mean to be a Teacher?

Whether inspiring young people or helping them achieve their potential, you and your colleagues use professional standards to guide your practice. Standards are a mirror of what you do every day: your interest toward students, your ability to respond to their needs, understand their capabilities, their challenges and to acknowledge their unique way of learning.

Four years after the Standards of Practice for the Teaching Profession and the Ethical Standards for the Teaching Profession were developed, the Ontario College of Teachers is reviewing them to ensure that they accurately describe "what it means to be a teacher in Ontario."

The five standards of practice focus on commitment to students and student learning, professional knowledge, teaching practice, leadership and community and ongoing professional learning

The ethical standards describe the professional values and ethical responsibilities central to the profession.

The College invites you to participate in the review of the standards by completing this short questionnaire.

Depending on your exposure to the standards, you may want to review the documents Standards of Practice for the Teaching Profession and Ethical Standards for the Teaching Profession prior to responding to the questionnaire.

By sharing your experience in relation to the standards you help us to clearly describe the knowledge, values and skills reflected in your everyday practice.

Please respond today. Your input is vital. Please click here.

The Council of the Ontario College of Teachers has appointed an ad hoc committee to provide recommendations on a governance model for the College. The committee will report to Council by September 30, 2004.

Over the next few months, the committee will be holding hearings in six Ontario communities. Education stakeholder organizations, members of the College and members of the public are being invited to comment on all or some of the following governance issues:

• ideas to ensure the independence and de-politicization of the College
• input into the number and type of elected and appointed members of the College Council
• a process for the validation of future public appointments to Council
• ideas to improve voter turnout and to attract more candidates to run in Council elections
• the role of candidate slates in the electoral process
• the need for new conflict of interest guidelines for elected and appointed members
• the role for the College in fostering a better understanding of the profession.

The committee welcomes submissions by e-mail to outreach@oct.ca. Submissions will be accepted up to June 30, 2004.

Elementary Teachers' Opportunity

We'd like to bring to your attention a safety-related opportunity that will be of special interest to elementary teachers ... and offers a chance to win a free trip for March Break 2005. The Fire Marshal's Public Fire Safety Council has created a Summer Safety for Kids Campaign aimed at elementary school children and their families, focusing on preventing childhood injuries.

When you register your elementary class to participate in the campaign, and teach a safety lesson, you have a chance to win a Florida March Break Vacation for Two in 2005, a Toronto Weekend Getaway, 1 of 10 Classroom Pizza Parties, along with other prizes. Visit  www.safecommunities.com/teachers  for complete details and lesson plans.