Minister moves to shift blame for dislike of distance learning

Re Ontario teachers told to ‘embrace’ live video-conferencing as school shutdown continues, May 8

Apart from the question of why teachers are being ordered to use a “modality” that not all kids, or even teachers, have the requisite access to technology to use.

And apart from the fact that most teachers are also parents trying to meet the demands of their own kids, and apart from the fact that the online platforms needed to do synchronous teachers are open to abuse, and apart from the myriad legal and privacy issues raised by the prospect of live video conferencing with students, I’d like to know on what evidence-based data such a directive is being based, such that Minister of Education Stephen Lecce thinks it is pedagogically necessary.

Perhaps it’s the same evidence-based research that informed the decision to make two e-learning courses mandatory for all high school students. In other words, none. This directive should be seen for what it is: A crass, mean-spirited political move designed to place blame on teachers for the fact that parents and students have come to loathe remote teaching.

Jason Kunin, Toronto