The reality of being an educational assistant

It is described as some of the most difficult work in Ontario's schools, but educational assistants are among the lowest paid workers in public education. Tina Yazdani speaks to a family that relies on EAs, as CUPE continues negotiations.

[@nmacpher]

I’m a classroom high school teacher. There are many situations where I have worked with an EA and I can tell you I would not be able to provide the support an EA is able to provide on top of providing the attention and support the other students need in my class. When I teacher needs the support of an EA in the class that individual is the bread and butter of making the class work and also meeting the needs of all students in the room. They are very much under valued and truly deserve so much more then they currently getting. Many EAs do their job with great care and integrity.

[@primmakinsofis614]

And how much of your teaching is ideologically driven?

[@thesweetone]

FYI the dollar per hour is decent but EAs only work a 6 hour day and DONT get paid over the summer

[@Jeff-cr6ur]

Ok so wait, if a living wage is $42000, and you divide that by 12 months, that’s $3500 per month. An EA’s average salary is $39000, so divide that by 10 months and that is $3900 a month. And further, divide that by 120 working hours a month…that’s $32.50 an hour! So essentially they make more than a living wage but don’t get paid in the summer. Would that be because they don’t work in the summer?? Um..duh! And they know that when they sign up for this job. They sure do like the 6 hour days though…and all the stat days, sick days, benefits and pension that come with working in a school board. I’d love to have a 6 hr day and be home by 4pm..

[@WiseOwl_1408]

Better get a second job if you don't work actually hours

[@TheRealCartman1]

so they should get a second job. They are basically part time employees

[@Jeff-cr6ur]

@@TheRealCartman1 yes! Why should anyone get paid the Same as a 40 hr work week, 12 months of the year, if they don’t actually work that lol? Who do you know that gets paid for not working? And tell me where that is because I’ll join! And all the benefits that most people don’t have is a pretty good gig for a “part time job” wouldn’t you say?

[@theresa-lynnecain6364]

@@WiseOwl_1408 I think you should use spell check before you post your comments.

[@gordie727]

Living wage is $42,000 that's hilarious, maybe when rent is $1,000 but not at the current inflated prices, there is absolutely no way.

[@WiseOwl_1408]

I know a ton of people who get by on way less. But they aren't city bugmen

[@neoanderson563]

Freedumbers don't seem to respect or understand these education workers and the tough job they have.

[@WiseOwl_1408]

It's a strange thing to consider the word freedom to be.... Dumb.

[@neoanderson563]

And here they come 😄

[@FreedomforCanadians]

Ya we do! It's really tough having your rights being threatened and legislated away. That's where my empathy ends. Cupe didn't care about the rights of parents and their children or children's well being. CUPE instead wanted children to be double masked and for experimental jabs mandated so they can feel "safe" enough to work. Children are a pawn to CUPE to use just as much as the Provincial and federal government. Freedom for all Canadians and protection for children from groomers, Corona nazis, child mutilators and their advocates, and all those that prey on children! 🇨🇦

[@tunzlover1682]

Pretty tough babysitting Wokies.

[@thedualtransition6070]

@@WiseOwl_1408 Its because freedumbers don't understand the meaning of freedom, they want to be free to be exploited by the plutocrats. That's why they are dumb, like little sheep going to the slaughter.

[@TheRealCartman1]

"it is described as some of the most difficult and strenuous work in public education" - by who exactly? My former coworker described himself as a hard worker, almost pro athlete, borderline genius - he was fired for being a lazy idiot. "an average starting salary of $15 an hour" - not true, minimum wage is $15.50. And what is the average hourly rate? Educational assistants are limited in Ontario to 35 hours per week, 42 weeks per year -that's less then 1,500 hours per year, not a full time job so they should have a second job

[@writerpatrick]

EA is a position that often later leads to getting into teacher's college and becoming a teacher. So while the pay may seem low, it's more of a stepping stone job.

[@Michellep654]

That's hardly true.

[@xxkerosensexx]

It’s not lol. An EA is a child and youth worker which is different from a teacher.

[@primmakinsofis614]

If the job is so horrible, they know they can quit and find a more lucrative job in the private sector, right? They are NOT owed a job as an educational assistant.

[@xxkerosensexx]

EAs are there to support children who are abused and/or have mental health issues, learning disabilities, etc. Teachers aren’t educated to do this kind of work. You know that, right?

[@edwardnygma6691]

A) Jobs don't grow on trees. B) If they do go and work in the private sector, someone else will be doing the job and the same problems will still exist, just for a different person.

[@thedualtransition6070]

Spoken like a good plutocrat! The private sector has been busy moving people to precarious jobs, keeping wages low and outsourcing and offshoring for decades now, jobs are not that easy to get. Especially with completely uncontrolled levels of mass immigration.

[@goylanddefree80]

The reality of poor life choices and no accountability

[@JessT-vg7ib]

She choose this career...she can choose to leave it.

[@WiseOwl_1408]

Do one on a real worker next. Like a factory or cashier. Someone as who is actually close to being poor maybe.... Manufacturing consensus is far more important isn't it.

[@christinerobertson8538]

See I really hope the educational people would love to help Mr. T-man out if his parents go to Florida because let me with blindness in one 🦯