MARK-ALAN WHITTLE
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PUBLIC TAKES DIM VIEW OF TEACHER VIOLENCE

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The Ancaster News
An open letter to Elizabeth Witmer, Minister of Education / Deputy Premier of Ontario
Dear Liz,
I think you have finally exposed the really corrosive elements that are causing the worst barriers to an improved teaching environment in the broader public education sector. The appalling militancy and goonish intimidation tactics, that anyone not of a like mind is exposed to as you where recently, is shameful, by any measure known to us all. I wrote to the out-going union president Kathy McVean after hearing of your plight and reading her press release about the meeting you graciously attended on behalf of the citizens of Ontario. I have included the text below for your perusal as it was quickly removed from the OECTA web site and a half-hearted apology was put in it's place after they received my confidential memorandum exposing their trumped up allegations.
Over the course of my day off today, I took the opportunity to talk amongst my friends an associates who know of my commitment to public education, that is as strong as your very own. The events we witnessed on television and read about in today's newspapers struck a raw nerve in all of us. Every single one of us parents and grandparents are shocked and appalled at your treatment by catholic teachers and other "hooded" and disguised members of the OECTA union executive.
Having been treated with the same contempt, lack of decency and respect by the public school system equivalent, when I gave a public presentation to an education hearing recently -- as you where while attending the Annual Ontario English Catholic Teachers Association Conference -- leads me to the inescapable conclusion that can be drawn by the wider public, as you must be well aware of by now.
It's high time for some "real world" cause and effects to be introduced into the education sector's ever increasing militancy and blatant disregard for the public, including duly elected government officials such as yourself, who have ministerial authority vested in them by our Parliament. It's an assault on democracy more worthy of a third world "tin pot" dictatorship and should not be tolerated by elected officials, the police and the public at large. It's time to draw a line in the sand for the hard-working taxpayers of Ontario.
I want you to know you that the public supports you, as much as I certainly do, and they trust that you will continue to govern education in Ontario in a forthright and honest way as you have until now, despite how you have been treated by the education sector unions.
I can tell you with some assurance that the general public takes a dim view of the actions that befell you that may have caused you embarrassment and harm. For that I apologize with all my heart and sincerely hope those involved soberly reflect on their actions and change for the betterment of the education system we support.