Ontario College of Teachers Revokes Member’s Teaching Certificate After Findings of Professional Misconduct
By Muneeza Sheikh
In a recent Ontario College of Teachers decision, the Discipline Committee of the Ontario College of Teachers revoked the teaching certificate of a member after finding that he was guilty of professional misconduct. The member was employed by the Peel District School Board from 1974 until 1997, at which time his employment was terminated by the Board.
This case concerns the member’s conduct between 1979 to 1996, during which time he was publically involved in perpetuating beliefs and values that were contrary to the principles of multiculturalism and tolerance fundamental to his employment with the Board and as a member of the Ontario College of Teachers. For example, the member co-founded and was the research director for an organization that espoused intolerant and discriminatory beliefs and values. The member also spoke publically at various events where he attacked Canada’s policy of multiculturalism and championed in support of a racist ideology. The member received numerous warnings and reprimands that his conduct was clearly disrespectful to the principles of multiculturalism and ethno-cultural equity adopted by the School and the Board.
The parties took differing positions on the relevance of the off-duty conduct. The member’s position was that his conduct was off-duty conduct and that he had the right to be involved in expressing his political or religious views on his own time outside the classroom.
The College took the position that the off-duty conduct of the member was relevant because of the impact it had and was likely to have on the confidence of the public in the teaching system. The College also stated that teachers that were engaged in the type of conduct that the member was engaged in should not be allowed to continue in the teaching profession as such conduct went against various Board-developed policies. These policies speak to the multicultural nature of the community and allow students and other community members to feel that their diversity is valued by the Board. The College did not contest the fact that the member fulfilled his duties as a teacher. However, his public activities were inconsistent with the fundamental “core values” outlined in the Education Act.
Although the Committee recognized that teachers can have a private life that is not subject to special scrutiny, the school the member taught at was very multicultural and was strongly impacted by the member’s activities. The Committee made clear that the views that the member expressed had a negative impact on the education system, created a poisoned school environment and the actions were inconsistent with the values of the teaching profession.
The Discipline Committee found that the member was guilty of professional misconduct in that he publically expressed views that were contrary to the values of the teaching profession and the education system. His outside conduct was found to detrimentally impact the school community. The Committee drew specific attention to the fact that the member spoke against multiculturalism and non-white immigration, and used racist language when referring to various racial minority groups at public events. Furthermore, it was found that his involvement in political activities opened the door to creating an effect on the school community that brought into question a viable learning environment.
In terms of penalty, the Committee ordered the Ontario College of Teachers to revoke the member’s certificate in addition to ordering that the findings and order of Committee be published in summary with the member’s name in the official publication of the College, Professionally Speaking/Pour parler profession.