I received an email today from a fellow teacher—we’ll call them Bob—who was frustrated that their colleague had volunteered to organize a school music concert. They argued that this kind of “volunteer culture” is what ruins working conditions, because it creates pressure for others to do the same. According to Bob, teachers doing unpaid work is the reason other teachers suffer.

The Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives has done some research into education funding.  Their estimate is that compared to 2018-19, school boards have received $1,500 less per student. The result is billions of dollars lost to education in Ontario.