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Federation of Canadian Secondary Students

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The Organization of Ontario Secondary Students (OOSS) is a Canadian federally registered not-for-profit organization.[1] The organization works to represent and advocate for secondary school students in the province of Ontario and was formed in response to the Putting Students First Act (formerly Bill 115) on September 11, 2012[2][3] though was not formally incorporated until December 24, 2014.[4]

The OOSS and Bill 115

From the outset of the labour dispute between educators and their union, the ministry of education, and boards of education the OOSS affirmed a fully non-partisan, non-political stance and stated that it would take no sides and give no favour to any party of the dispute, while also hoping to "affect the negotiations between the union and the government in some way or form."[5] While many students orchestrated walkouts at schools across the province, the OOSS discouraged its members and other students from participating in these protest actions, and instead proposed a vision for a "unified student voice" for the province in labour negotiations.[6]

As a result of the looming employment action and risk of strikes by teachers and educational staff caused by Bill 115, the Organization of Ontario Secondary Students launched a two-fold protest plan that would see secondary students engage in a group petition action that would be sent to the provincial ministry of education and the Ontario Secondary School Teachers' Federation (OSSTF), the union representing secondary teachers. The second portion of the protest action would have students sign placards asserting the importance of extra-curricular activities which would then be sent to then Minister of Education Laurel Broten and President of the OSSTF, Ken Coran.[7]

As the dispute between the provincial Ministry of Education, secondary school teachers (via their union), and public school board continued into 2013, the Organization of Ontario Secondary Students launched a province-wide initiative called "Sport Your Extra-Curricular Day" which encouraged secondary students from across Ontario to wear their official school spirit attire to support the reinstatement of extra-curricular activities in Ontario schools.[8] The event was organized completely by secondary students from Abbey Park High School but later spread to over 40 schools in the province.[9] Throughout the protests, the OOSS asserted that its goal was "not to wreak havoc on the union or the government, but to send a distinctive message that advocates the student voice and publicizes the devastating impact this conflict has had on Ontario students."[10][11] Dennis Xu, then President of the OOSS also spoke about the importance of extra-curricular activities on the Metro Morning show by the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC) to help raise awareness of the ongoing labour dispute and to publicize the non-disruptive protest action organized by the organization,[12]

In early February 2013, Katie Fettes of the OOSS engaged in a two-hour meeting with the President of the OSSTF, Ken Coran. The meeting was held in an attempt to reconcile the reasons for why teachers were withholding extra-curricular activities. Fettes further emphasized that "the school culture is missing," before continuing to describe the hostility felt by students against teachers.[13]

As in-school extra-curricular activities were planned to be reintroduced in March 2013, the OOSS launched Operation Save Our Schools to draw attention to the arbitration model to prevent future labour disputes from affecting the learning environment for students and to help educate the public on the importance of extra-curricular activities in schools as a vital part of secondary education. The operation involved a consultation with students across the province and the drafting of an open letter to the provincial government to outline the importance of extra-curricular activities and the need for an arbitration model.[14]

Advocacy After Bill 115

After the labour dispute in 2012 as a result of Bill 115, the OOSS later responded to further potential strike action by secondary school educators in 2015 which could disrupt the delivery of marks at year-end, field trips, sports events, and proms for students.[15] The organization sent written correspondence to the Durham District School Board which was one of the seven municipal boards of education at risk of teacher walkouts, as well as the OSSTF. As before, the OOSS proposed non-disruptive protest action and advocated that the goal was "to get the student voice heard" by writing letters to members of provincial parliament, the minister of education, and other stakeholders in the education system.[16]

In early April, the OOSS hosted a youth outreach workshop entitled the "Opportunities Fair" which hoped to connect passionate secondary students in search of volunteer experience with worthy and youth-focused nonprofit organizations such as AYJ Global, YMCA, Evergreen, YES Canada, Operation Dentistry School, SHAD, HOSA, YBH, Project 5K, Wirkn, and Plan Canada.[17]

On August 20 2015, the Organization of Ontario Secondary Students was invited to participate on the CBC Ontario Today show to discuss the changing nature of education and what students believe should be different about school with specific regard to labour unrest, Ontario's new sexual education curriculum, and protests over dress codes.[18]

In October 2015, the OOSS formally amended its registered name from the Organization of Ontario Secondary Students to the Federation of Canadian Secondary Students-Fédération des Élèves du Secondaire au Canada (FCSS-FESC) and opened new chapters in the provinces of British Columbia, Quebec, and Newfoundland and Labrador to help further student voice in new regions across Canada.[19] [20]

  1. ^ "Federal Corporation Information - 913651-7". Corporations Canada. Government of Canada. Retrieved 30 July 2016.
  2. ^ "Our History". FCSS-FESC. Federation of Canadian Secondary Students. Retrieved 30 July 2016.
  3. ^ Gerster, Jane (4 January 2013). "Students find value in keeping a full plate of extracurriculars". The Globe and Mail. Retrieved 30 July 2016.
  4. ^ "Federal Corporation Information - 913651-7". Corporations Canada. Government of Canada. Retrieved 30 July 2016.
  5. ^ Vertolli, Riziero (11 December 2012). "Oakville students protest loss of school activities". InsideHalton. Metroland Media. Retrieved 30 July 2016.
  6. ^ Shah, Maryam (10 December 2012). "oronto students stage walkouts amid teacher job action". Toronto Sun. Postmedia Group. Retrieved 30 July 2016.
  7. ^ Beaver, Oakville (19 December 2012). "High school students unveil OOSS protest plan". InsideHalton. Metroland Media. Retrieved 30 July 2016.
  8. ^ Rushowy, Kristin; Kane, Laura (15 January 2013). "Ontario teacher protest: ETFO extracurricular ban to be reviewed". Toronto Star. Retrieved 30 July 2016.
  9. ^ Rushowy, Kristin; Kane, Laura (15 January 2013). "Ontario teacher protest: ETFO extracurricular ban to be reviewed". Toronto Star. Retrieved 30 July 2016.
  10. ^ Reason, Cynthia (16 January 2013). "Etobicoke School of the Arts students join province-wide Sport Your Extra-Curricular Day". Etobicoke Guardian. Metroland Media. Retrieved 30 July 2016.
  11. ^ Stewart, John (17 January 2013). "Cawthra students protest loss of extracurricular activities". Mississauga News. Metroland Media. Retrieved 30 July 2016.
  12. ^ Galloway, Matt (7 January 2013). "Extracurricular?". Metro Morning. Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 30 July 2016.
  13. ^ Hamilton-McCharles, Jennifer (5 February 2013). "Students meet with teachers' union leader". The Nugget. Postmedia Network. Sun Media Community Newspapers. Retrieved 30 July 2016.
  14. ^ Dykes, Tom (7 March 2013). "Arbitration is key to conflict resolution in Ontario labour issues". InsideHalton. Metroland Media. Retrieved 30 July 2016.
  15. ^ Brown, Louise. "Student group fights to ensure their interests aren't lost in teacher unrest". Toronto Star. Retrieved 30 July 2016.
  16. ^ Louise, Brown (22 April 2015). "Student group fights to ensure their interests aren't lost in teacher unrest". Toronto Star. Retrieved 30 July 2016.
  17. ^ "OOSS OPPORTUNITIES FAIR". Plan Canada Blog. Plan Canada. Retrieved 30 July 2016.
  18. ^ Celli, Rita (20 August 2015). "Students, what needs to change about school?". Ontario Today. Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 30 July 2016.
  19. ^ "Federal Corporation Information - 913651-7". Corporations Canada. Government of Canada. Retrieved 30 July 2016.
  20. ^ "The Big News: We're Going National". FCSS-FESC. Federation of Canadian Secondary Students. Retrieved 30 July 2016.
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