Voluntary Extracurricular Activities: How much is enough?

Introduction

One of the administration’s first activities in September is to post a sign-up list of clubs, committees, sports activities, etc. Elementary teachers often feel obligated to sign-up for these activities. Most of these activities are voluntary and individual teachers cannot be forced to do them.

Focus on Teaching Responsibilities

The Education Act details the duties of a teacher. This list does not include, for example, coaching basketball or fundraising.

Because the Act sets out the core legal requirements of the role of a teacher, these activities should be the focus of our job. Teachers have a defined job, and that the demands of this job are increasing.

Teachers are workers who have lives of their own. Electing to undertake voluntary activities can result in less focus on a teacher’s core classroom responsibilities, or on their personal lives. This can be the source of considerable stress.

Extra Curricular Activities are Voluntary

ETFO has made recognizing that such activities are voluntary an important bargaining priority. Most of our teacher collective agreements contain language supporting this fact. Boards without language in their collective agreements informally recognize that these activities are voluntary and that teachers cannot be required to undertake them.

As a union, ETFO has worked to ensure that collective agreements enshrine limits on the length of the instructional day, instructional week, and the school year. ETFO recognizes that, without these limits, employers could extend the job well beyond what is reasonable.

ETFO also recognizes that, while voluntary extra curricular activities benefit students, many members are burned out and can longer cope with the ever-increasing demands of the job.

Extra Work Extends the Work Week

A study of the ETFO membership conducted by ComQuest Research indicated that, on average, elementary teachers spend 2.7 hours per week on extra curricular activities.

Elementary teachers, in the collective, are working 135,000 hours per week on top of their teaching responsibilities, or 19,000 additional working days per week. This unpaid work greatly extends the regular work week.

In a presentation to the Ontario Medical Association (OMA) Annual Meeting on , Bill Wilkerson, a respected researcher in the field of mental health, examined the impact of stress on the teaching profession. Much of his analysis was based upon data provided by OTIP, the largest LTD insurer for Ontario’s teachers. He noted that “The school teachers in Ontario face a public health crisis. Depression is the principal source of disability leave and the principal reason for prescription drug use among school teachers in Ontario …. The LTD claims processed by OTIP have doubled since 1993.” 

Wilkerson identified the source of this mental and nervous illness as the fact that a teacher’s work week seems to be relentless.

Choose Professional Priorities Carefully

Teachers must make careful decisions about voluntary extra curricular activities. When presented with the September activity sign-up, weigh these considerations carefully:

• Voluntary extra curricular activities are exactly that, voluntary. Teachers should make decisions about participation based upon their individual professional and personal situations. If teachers feel pressured, they should contact their ETFO local president immediately;
  
• Assuming voluntary extra curricular activities can set a precedent. What is an extra activity one year can become an expectation the next, and is further built upon over time.
  
• Teachers should not be critical of colleagues who focus on their classroom and personal obligations, and who decide not to participate in voluntary extra curricular activities.
  
• Teachers who decide to participate in voluntary extra curricular activities should not receive special considerations for doing so, especially if these considerations mean more work for others.
  
• Teachers who elect not to participate in voluntary extra curricular activities should not be penalized for making that decision. For example, their performance appraisal should not be negatively affected by their decision not to coach basketball or to run the skipping club.

Members are advised to consult call Professional Relations staff in Protective Services at 416- 962-3836 or 1-888-838-3836