It didn't start two years ago when Ontario Minister of Education, John Snobelen said that he would "create a crisis" in education. But since he blurted it out, the corporate agenda for education became apparent and the struggle against it escalated. Public education is one public service that has been relatively free of commercialism and privatization. While our education system directly provides for school age children, it indirectly serves the whole community and its future. This can be summed up in the well-known quote "If you think education is expensive, try ignorance!".

In my nine years as a public school trustee, I have seen several changes directed to undermining public education, such as the expanded funding of the separate school system, and the openings given to corporate sponsors and partnerships. But the drastic changes of the Harris government over the past two years are in effect dismantling public education. This article is to look at what has been done, its implication and what can be done about it.

First, just as a military aggressor dehumanizes its enemy in order to rally support, the government has created a negative perception of our education system. It has distorted the current spending to imply that the lion's share of tax dollars is not benefiting the students. It has incorrectly portrayed education spending as growing disproportionately and unjustifiably in the past ten years, notably the ten years that the Conservatives have been out of power in the province. It has bashed teachers, support staff, trustees and even parents for what it calls our underachieving results, in spite of the facts that show our education system has been highly recognized internationally for its success.

After creating a public climate of distrust and dissatisfaction with the system, last May it passed Bill 103 to give the provincial government power over funding and curriculum and contracting out services. Bill 103 is one stone to kill several birds
-- it gives the Harris Tory's the opportunity to take away millions of dollars from education to meet its promised 30% tax cut (mainly to benefit the wealthy)
-- in effect it takes away local democratic control, by eliminating --boards of education and reducing the number of elected trustees from 1,900 to 700.. In Metro Toronto there will be one board of 22 trustees, replacing the current six boards of 77 trustees.
-- it opens the door to contracting out of services such as secretarial, custodial, teacher aides, technical support, etc.

The court challenge to bill 103 by public school trustees was an extraordinary action to oppose the Tory takeover of education finance and downsizing of democratic control. In August, the judge ruled against the challenge, but criticized the government's actions as being "breathtakingly arbitrary". The Judge, Archie Campbell, said "until there is an actual attempt to use these remarkable powers it is premature to adjudicate upon them."

The court challenge is one of many battles in the education arena. The teachers were a major part of the massive demonstration in October and will continue to be a significant force against Bill 136, the anti-labour legislation and any additional legislation specifically directed at teachers. Parent organizations such as the Coalition of Metro Parents and the Ontario Education Alliance have helped inform and mobilize parents in the struggle. The Alliance is actively working for the election of progressive candidates in the November 10 municipal elections. The Tories have already indicated that they will field candidates in each ward. Thus the election campaign itself will be like a mini-provincial campaign and brings the opportunity for massive electoral rejection of Harris policies.

The battle against destruction of public education as we know it is not one of self-interest for trustees, teachers or support staff, as the Tories have suggested. In fact, the defence of public education is at the core of our basic rights and freedoms. Democracy must be taught and fought for by each generation. This battle involves our future.