Ontario teachers union takes legal action to stop sex-ed changes, snitch line
Posted September 4, 2018 5:33 am.
Last Updated September 5, 2018 5:50 am.
This article is more than 5 years old.
As students returned to class Tuesday, The Elementary Teachers’ Federation of Ontario (ETFO) has announced legal action to fight the Ford government’s changes to the sex-ed curriculum.
ETFO president Sam Hammond said Tuesday morning that the union has filed an application for a judicial review of the Ontario government’s changes to the curriculum and the creation of a snitch line to report teachers who don’t follow the changes.
The application seeks an injunction to direct the government to leave the 2015 sex-ed curriculum in place, and halt the snitch line, which Hammond called “unprecedented and absolutely not necessary.”
Hammond accused the Ford government of abusing its power and creating a culture of fear for Ontario teachers.
He also said students were being put at risk by the adoption of the older curriculum.
“The older curriculum that the government has reissued minimizes information and in some cases it has removed completely key topics that are vital for children in 2018,” Hammond said. “Teaching issues like consent, LGBTQ relationships, gender identities and many other human development issues related to today’s realities are not only necessary but vital for student safety well-being and inclusivity.”
Hammond said the snitch line would allow anyone “to target any teacher for any reason” adding that the “potential for abuse is enormous.”
“Both actions on the part of the government are unreasonable and an infringement on the rights and freedoms that are guaranteed to teachers by the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms.”
Ontario’s Progressive Conservative government has warned there will be consequences for teachers who use the modernized version of the lesson plan introduced by the Liberals in 2015.
That plan included warnings about online bullying and sexting, but opponents objected to parts addressing same-sex marriage, gender identity and masturbation.
The province has set up a website where parents can report any concerns about teachers not using the government’s “revised interim curriculum.”
Related stories:
Some Ontario students will still learn the 2015 sex-ed curriculum
Civil liberties association, parent suing Ontario over sex-ed curriculum
No tolerance for teachers using a repealed sex ed curriculum, warns Doug Ford
