Some boards are reportedly entering negotiations demanding that teacher preparation time be eliminated altogether. Recent proposals by the Ontario government will force public universities to compete for students and funding with measures that will allow the accreditation of private universities in the province by next year. Last spring the Tories took the lead in the drive to privatization by tying university funding to job placement records, an initiative that solidly ties education funding to the needs of the market. There is no question that the attack on education will continue following the implementation of Bills 74 and 81. Ecker has already signaled her intention to introduce a system of merit pay for teachers, and a number of cabinet members openly support the establishment of charter schools.
Big business is no longer content with the piecemeal corporatization of education.
There can be little question that the Tories' long-term objective is wholesale privatization of the sort currently taking place in Britain. Ian Bruce is a Toronto high school teacher.