On a daily occurrence, Educational Assistants (EA's) experience an array of support, demise, and struggle. With the ongoing lack of financial resources, materials within schools, and understanding from Ontario Certified Teacher's, it has become evidently clear that Educational Assistants play a vital role within the classroom. Though there is lack of recognition for the overall job, special education, and the aid required by children with exceptional needs and their families, the classroom would not be able to function without them. EA's work tirelessly ensuring the safety, health, and well-being of the children they support is at the heart of their day. Parallel to creating safe spaces, EA's take the brunt of physical actions and specialize in co-creating and working alongside the classroom teacher to construct Individualized Education Plans (IEPs), Safety Plans, share observations, and the list could go on and on.
As there is now conversation and speculation that there will be a job action movement for many Union's that include Educational Assistants, it is only appropriate that we stand behind them. For the money Educational Assistants make for the work that they do and their role in education, the physical, mental, and emotional toll the job has on them, the high number of medical leaves due to injury on site and stress leaves due to lack of support in all aspects of the job, this seems like the only chance they will have for anything.
Editor's note - Read the article here:
To all fellow EA's, you are not alone in the feelings that surround the amazing work that you do!
Please know you are appreciated and valued!
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