ERIC Number: EJ1408070
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2023
Pages: 31
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-0380-2361
EISSN: EISSN-1918-5979
Resentment and Admiration: Public Opinion Toward Teachers and Public Sector Employees in Ontario
Chris Erl; R. Michael McGregor; Jack Lucas; Cameron D. Anderson
Canadian Journal of Education, v46 n3 p597-627 2023
Public opinion toward teachers and other public sector workers is an important factor in Ontario provincial politics. This article uses public opinion data to measure, and identify the correlates of, resentment and admiration of these groups, and to identify the relationship between these attitudes and support for political parties in Ontario. Survey data from over 4,000 Ontarians, collected at the time of the 2022 provincial election, show that Ontarians have greater admiration for, and less resentment toward, teachers than toward other provincial government workers. The data also reveal several factors related to these attitudes, including comparative assessments of compensation and workload, and relationships with members of these groups. Finally, the data show that attitudes toward teachers, but not other public sector workers, are related to provincial vote choice, with negative attitudes toward teachers predicting PC Party support. Teachers are clearly a more salient "target" of resentment in Ontario provincial politics. These findings have implications for educational policy and the tactics of teacher unions.
Descriptors: Foreign Countries, Public Opinion, Teachers, Public Service Occupations, Government Employees, Political Influences, Politics of Education, Public Support, Local Issues, Voting, Political Attitudes, Negative Attitudes, Correlation, Political Affiliation
Canadian Society for the Study of Education (CSSE). 260 Dalhousie Street Suite 204, Ottawa, ON K1N 7E4, Canada. Tel: 613-241-0018; Fax: 613-241-0019; e-mail: csse-scee@csse.ca; Web site: http://cje-rce.ca/
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research; Tests/Questionnaires
Education Level: N/A
Audience: N/A
Language: N/A
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Identifiers - Location: Canada
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A