Ontario teachers union hands out awards for activism, not math or science

The ETFO has handed out more than a dozen awards but not one recognized classroom excellence in teaching math, literacy, science or pedagogy without emphasizing a progressive activist lens.

Source: Wikimedia Commons

The Elementary Teachers’ Federation of Ontario (EFTO) has handed out more than a dozen awards but not one recognized classroom excellence in teaching math, literacy, science or pedagogy without emphasizing a progressive activist lens.

This month, the union announced its 2024–25 award recipients, honouring “outstanding contributions.” Every academic category from curriculum development to children’s literature was tied to activism, equity, or social justice.

A closer look shows that the “academic” or “creative” awards were overwhelmingly for work that embedded activism into academics. Literature awards went to projects advancing social justice themes, curriculum awards highlighted equity-focused resources, and even environmental education was framed through climate justice, elevating union-aligned activism as the highest professional achievement.

Roughly two-thirds of all awards celebrated work in anti-racism, anti-oppression, DEI (diversity, equity, and inclusion), or other progressive initiatives, while the rest were awarded for service to the union. No recognition was given for improving literacy, numeracy, or classroom learning outcomes.

Teachers’ unions exist to protect the labour rights of members. As such, their core responsibilities to collective bargaining, safeguarding against unfair discipline, and lobbying for manageable class sizes and working conditions. In Ontario, the ETFO has broadened that role into one that functions as a political and cultural actor inside the education system. Its public campaigns, professional development programs, and awards now consistently emphasize anti-racism, anti-oppression, 2SLGBTQ+ issues, climate change, and decolonization.

Recognizing traditional teaching skills was not on the agenda. True North asked the ETFO why none of this year’s awards recognized classroom excellence in math, literacy, science, or pedagogy unless explicitly tied to progressive political causes. The union did not respond.

The union has received negative public feedback in recent months over its focus on activism. At its Annual General Meeting in August, the ETFO delegates passed a motion to develop teaching resources addressing anti-Palestinian racism. Seventy-one per cent supported the measure, which was intended to affirm Palestinian identity in schools and equip educators to confront bias.

The Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs quickly raised alarms, warning that the motion overstepped the ETFO’s authority and risked mischaracterizing Jewish identity in the classroom. In a letter to Ontario’s education ministers, CIJA argued that curriculum linked to specific geopolitical conflicts falls outside the jurisdiction of a union and could be divisive rather than educational.

Additional concerns came from the Jewish Educators and Families Association of Canada. In interviews and published reports, Jewish teachers described fear of speaking openly about antisemitism in schools and a lack of support from unions or boards. Some reported being investigated or even suspended for alleged anti-Palestinian racism violations, despite the absence of a clear definition in policy. Others said they avoided highlighting Jewish History Month out of fear of being accused of indoctrination.

Jewish educators have raised alarms about the impact of union-led activism in classrooms. JEFA co-founder Tamara Gottlieb stated that many Jewish educators feel “totally unseen or unsupported” and that some are hiding their identity at work. The group cited teacher unions as central to the problem, accusing them of promoting identity-based politics at the expense of academics. The association has warned that introducing anti-Palestinian racism into policy without definitions places Jewish identity and support for Israel at risk of being miscast as racism.

Financial questions have also plagued the union. Reporting by True North revealed that the ETFO has built a $300 million war chest, including more than $180 million set aside in a “defence fund.” Sue-Ann Levy argues that the fund is less about supporting classroom teachers and more about financing political battles, reinforcing concerns that the union prioritizes activism over academic excellence.

As students return to classrooms this September, several Ontario school boards remain under direct supervision by the Ministry of Education. Education Minister Paul Calandra and several of his predecessors have repeatedly stressed the need to get politics out of schools.