Report cards withheld for public board

Ongoing negotiations between the Ministry of Education and elementary teachers are having an impact on some aspects of education, with the Greater Essex County District School Board’s decision not to issue first term report cards

As part of their work to rule campaign, teachers will provide a class list with marks for each subject for every student, instead of inputting marks with comments into the program used to produce report cards.

On Jan. 24, students in the Greater Essex County District School Board, were sent home with a letter from the Ontario Principals’ Council explaining the rationale behind their decision not to issue the report cards. 

“The sheer volume of work needed to enter marks for every student on behalf of every teacher is impossible for administrators to accomplish in order to distribute report cards at this time,” the letter stated.

An early childhood educator with the GECDSB, who has been teaching for seven years, said the report cards do not have a real impact on communication between teachers and parents.

“At all times of the year, not just report card time, myself and any teacher would be open to discussing their child’s progress in school,” said the ECE, who asked not to be named.

However, some parents do not agree with the OPC’s decision.

Brooke Waters’ 10-year-old son Blake attends Malden Central Public School. Blake is a Grade 5 student who follows an Individual Education Plan that designs his education to accommodate his disability, making feedback provided on report cards even more important.

“Especially with a special needs student. Without them, concerns may not be recognized,” said Waters.

 She also said in situations like Blake’s the proposed solution given in the OPC’s statement is not completely practical.

“If I am unable to find a time to attend (a meeting) within their work hours, due to my work schedule, I will not have any idea of any strength and struggles he is experiencing this year.”

Currently four major teacher’s unions in Ontario are in the midst of job action including rotating strikes and work-to-rule campaigns. The situation has been escalating since contracts expired in August. Both sides returned to the bargaining table Jan. 29.