Here's a look at TVDSB secondary school teachers on strike

For the the first time in more than two decades, high school teachers with the Thames Valley District School Board are walking a picket line today.

More than 60,000 teachers and specialized support staff joined their counterparts across the province in a one-day walk-out to protest a lack of progress in contract talks with the province.

"We're standing up against slashing programming and courses that give students diverse learning opportunities. We are standing up against reducing access to trained caring professionals who provide...services for students with special needs, and standing up against limiting access to safe, equitable and supportive learning environments," said John Bernans, the local president of the Ontario Secondary School Teachers Federation.

Pickets went up at more than a dozen high schools in the region today, including six in London. The last time they walked out was in 1997when, aspremier of Ontario, Mike Harris introduced majorchanges to the education system.

"I think it's ironic that this government has targeted the education system. They'rethe ones who are needlessly increasing the class sizes. These class sizes have been in place since Mike Harris brought them in more than 20 years ago. And somehow they're saying that we don't have students' best interests at heart," said Bernans.

Protests were also heldatthe offices of Conservative MPPs Jeff Yurek in St. Thomas, Monte McNaughton in Strathroy, and Ernie Hardeman in Woodstock.

Some elementary schools are impacted because psychologists,psychometrists, school-support counsellors, social workers, and other specialized support personnel work in both the secondary and elementary panels.

Teachers are not picketing outside the Thames Valley District school board offices on Dundas Street because the target of their protest is the Ford government.

The teachers say they hope the one day job action will signal to parents that they're willing to fight for their kids.