An Oakville, Ontario, teacher’s dress has stirred much controversy, prompting the Ontario College of Teachers to announce a review of its professional standards.
In response to the province’s education minister’s request, the college has been assessing its professional standards, the college said in a statement to Global News on Friday.
Last month, pictures that appeared to show an Oakville Trafalgar High School teacher sporting substantial artificial breasts while teaching went popular online and in the media.
Stephen Lecce, the minister of education, responded by saying he has requested the Ontario College of Teachers to evaluate its standards.
“In this province, in our schools, we celebrate our differences and we also believe that there must be the highest standards of professionalism in front of our kids,” Education Minister Stephen Lecce said on Sept. 23 when asked about the situation.
We believe that tightening those provisions with regard to professional conduct would be in the best interests of all children in Ontario, therefore we have requested the Ontario College of Teachers to evaluate and take that into consideration.
The college ignored a request for response from Global News in the days following Lecce’s remarks.
However, it acknowledged on Friday that a review had been started in response to Lecce’s request.
According to a statement, “We will give the minister our response as soon as it is prepared.”
Please take notice that the college is unable to comment on specific instructors, institutions, or school boards.
The teaching profession in Ontario is “licenced, governed, and regulated in the public interest,” according to the Ontario College of Teachers website. Its duties include, among others, granting teaching credentials, establishing moral guidelines, and looking into complaints.
The college must certify all teachers in the province who receive public funding.
In reaction to the incident, trustees with the Halton District School Board (HDSB) earlier convened and decided to review the dress code.
The Ontario College of Teachers will provide us with more information, the HDSB said on Friday.
According to the board, it is “dedicated to creating and sustaining a safe, nurturing, inclusive, fair and welcoming learning and working environment for all children and staff.
“We work to ensure a safe and inclusive environment for all students, staff, and community members, regardless of their race, age, ability, sex, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, ethnicity, religion, cultural observance, socioeconomic circumstances, or body type or size,” the HDSB stated.
The HDSB acknowledges the right to equal treatment without discrimination on the basis of gender identity and gender expression for students, employees, parents/guardians, and community members.
The board stated that the Ontario Human Rights Code protects gender identity and expression and added that it will withhold further details since it is “a personnel concern.”
The Ontario College of Teachers is reviewing professional standards in relation to the Oakville teacher scandal.
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