Teachers will need support to bring new Ontario curriculum into the classroom

June 13 1997

TORONTO — "Teachers will need support to bring the changes that stem from the new Ontario curriculum into the classroom," said John Cruickshank, vice-chair of the Council of the Ontario College of Teachers.

While schools are expected to begin implementation this September, the magnitude of the changes will require significant work on the part of schools, teachers, program providers and the College of Teachers to ensure that new curriculum is implemented well over the next school year and beyond.

"In the future, we hope to be involved in the early stages of defining new curriculum directions so that our recommendations for teachers’ training can be ready for implementation when the documents are released rather than after the fact," said Cruickshank. "Unless teachers understand the changes announced today and are properly prepared to deliver them, this initiative will have limited success."

As part of its mandate, the College will assess current curriculum-related programs to ensure that the course content and resources – both human and financial – are appropriate to meet the needs of all members of the College so that they, in turn, may meet the needs of Ontario students. The assessment will be based, in part, on an analysis of these new documents.

"It is important that teachers, wherever they are located, have the knowledge and skills necessary to deliver the Ontario curriculum from Grade 1 to 8", said Cruickshank. "The College’s Standards of Practice and Education Committee will define the appropriate professional learning that teachers will need to assist them in the implementation of the changes announced today."

The Ontario College of Teachers -- the largest professional body in Canada with some 165,000 members – has authority to license, govern and regulate the practice of teaching in Ontario. Its primary functions include setting out clear standards of practice, ensuring sound professional learning goals and co-ordinating and monitoring career-long, accredited professional learning for teachers.