Name: ETFO Media Conference - September 4, 2018
Uploaded: 2020-02-26T03:21:02.000Z
Duration: 25 min 45 s
Description: Thousands of YouTube videos with English-Chinese subtitles! Now you can learn to understand native speakers, expand your vocabulary, and improve your pronunciation...

Good morning and thank you for coming on the first day of the new school year, 2018-2019

school year. Normally this is an opportunity for positive back to school stories --a new

school year full of hope and promise for the students and the educators who work with them.

Unfortunately, this year is starting differently as the Ford government has thrown the system

into uncertainty with poorly thought out announcements and confusing communications.

As you are aware, the Ontario government issued a directive that elementary educators would

use a revised Health and Physical Education Curriculum starting today.

The older curriculum that the government has re-issued minimizes information and, in some

cases, it has removed completely key topics that are vital for children in 2018.

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. The actions of the government to rescind the

2015 curriculum undermines the very safety and well-being of Ontario's students and families.

The world our students live in today is very different than it was in 1998.

The government has taken another action that undermines the professionalism, integrity

and professional judgement of teachers. It has set up a complaint or a "snitch line"

inviting parents to anonymously report any concerns regarding teachers and the curriculum.

In a worse case scenario, this "snitch line" would allow anonymous parents, or anyone as

a matter of fact, to target any teacher for any reason. The potential for abuse is enormous.

But this snitch line is also about creating a culture of fear for Ontario workers where

our professionalism and years of teaching and being educators to thousands of students

is directly being attacked. It is unprecedented and absolutely not necessary. Not in any way.

Educators work every day to foster a positive, safe and inclusive environment for students

and our members deserve the same kind of working environment.

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. The creation of this "snitch line", ignores

the systems already in place for parents and educators to deal constructively with issues

at the school level. Of equal concern with this snitch line, is

that it is based on the premise that there is a problem with teachers. This fundamentally

undermines parents' confidence in the high quality public education system that elementary

educators deliver. It is the role of government to build the system in a positive way -- not

to toss it into chaos. This morning, I am announcing that ETFO has

just filed an application for judicial review of the Minister of Education's directive on

the 2015 Health and Physical Education Curriculum and the parent "snitch line".

ETFO's application seeks an injunction to direct the government to leave the 2015 Health

and Physical Education Curriculum in place. This is vital to ensure that educators and

school boards can continue to protect the safety and health of students. It also seeks

to stop the operation of this unnecessary and counterproductive complaint or snitch

line. ETFO was forced to take this action because

students need information and answers to their questions to deal with the realities of 2018.

Our union, ETFO, along with community groups and thousands of Ontario residents and parents,

have raised this issue of concern with the government publicly, and through a variety

of advocacy mechanisms. But despite our efforts, our voices as professional educators are not

being heard or respected. As the school year officially begins today our union has no other

choice but to pursue this legal action to ensure that the safety and health of kids,

families and educators are not put at risk. Quite simply, ETFO believes that the government's

actions are an abuse of power and are in direct conflict with teachers' professional obligations

enshrined within the Education Act and the Standards of Practice of the Ontario College

of Teachers. ETFO also believes that the actions of the government are also in conflict with

the Ontario Human Rights Code, the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms and the professional

obligations on teachers as set out in the Education Act and the Standards of Practice

of the Ontario College of Teachers. This is why ETFO is taking legal action on

these issues. In addition, ETFO has also applied to seek

intervenor status in a case that was filed in August by parents and students and is currently

before the Ontario Human Rights Tribunal regarding changes to Ontario's curriculum.

I want to end by saying that Ontario has an internationally recognized education system.

One of the best in the world. However, this government is abusing its legislative power

and using students for political gain. The human development of students should not be

used as a pawn to appease some voters and deflect the real issues that are needed to

build better schools. Chronic underfunding caused by an out-dated

education funding formula, violence in schools, a lack of support for students with special

needs and mental health issues, and schools that need extensive repairs. These are the

real issues affecting the learning conditions of students across this province.

ETFO members have always and will continue to act in a professional way that puts students'

needs first and I am proud of that. Now, I would like to, at this point, turn it over

to Howard Goldblatt from Goldblatt Partners LLP who will represent ETFO in this matter.

Howard will explain the application filed this morning on ETFO's behalf to seek a review

and an injunction against this government. When Howard is done we would be happy to take

question. Howard. Thank you Sam and thank you everyone for attending

this morning. I want to try and synthesize what it is that has been filed by ETFO today

and what actually ETFO filed on Friday. So our challenge today, and you'll be provided

copies with it or access to it, is to outline the factual background of this application

and the legal basis for the challenge which in our view, clearly stablishes significant

violations of Charter Rights and professional and ethical standards of teachers.

We're developing and completing a record which will be filed in the court and will include

evidence from teachers and experts on curriculum development and the development and implementation

of the curriculum which is now been reverted to or revoked by this government.

What we are seeking is the following: Both in respect of the directive to return

to the what I would call the 1998 curriculum or the 2010 curriculum, as well as what Sam

has described as a snitch line or others might call it the reporting line.

We are trying to quash the directives issued by the minister in both respects. We are seeking

an order declaring a requirement to return to the old curriculum is being contrary to

the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms and in particular sections 2b which protects

freedom of expression, section 7 which protects personal security and the equality rights

under section 15. We are also seeking an order declaring that

the return to the old curriculum violates the principals of natural justice and procedural

fairness. Just to follow up on what Sam has said, on

Friday ETFO formally intervened in the human rights case that has been brought by a number

of parents and students who claim their human rights have been violated by the introduction

or the reversion to the old curriculum. And more specifically ETFO provided a declaration

which is evidence in support of the request by these applicants to seek an expedited hearing

and to stay of their proceedings. Let me be a little bit focused on some of

the law. The Supreme Court has expressly identified that teachers are the medium for the transmission

of values in our society and key actors in developing civic virtue and responsible citizenship

in an environment free of bias, prejudice and intolerance.

The directive, and the reporting line, fly squarely in the face of these fundamental

freedoms and values. The government has intentionally restricted

the expressive freedom of teachers, prohibiting them from fulfilling their role as educators

and preventing them from communicating accurate information critical to student health, safety,

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ETFO Media Conference - September 4, 2018

absolutely

significant

vital

physical