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*How Bad Do You Have to Be to Lose Your Teaching Certificate *
***in Ontario?*

In 1997, I was fired by the *Peel Board of Education*, after a 24-year
career as a high school English instructor. Their reasons? My alleged
“contempt and persistent disregard for multiculturalism and ethnocultural
equity” which were “core values” ( not, apparently, reading, writing, math
or computer literacy) of the Board. My specific final sins were attending
and speaking on my own time at a memorial service in Urbana, Illinois for
the late *Prof. Revilo Oliver*, an alleged anti-Semite and organizing, again
on my own time, off school property the *Second Canadian Free Speech
Conference* in Vancouver in March, 1996. I unsuccessfully grieved the
firing. Then, the Board launched a complaint with the *Ontario College of
Teachers*, which licenses teachers in the province. The hearings staggered
on over several years. The panel that heard my case evinced palpable
hostility to me. They had to be reminded by their own lawyer, when a
scheduling conflict arose, that an *Ontario Superior Court* had higher
standing and, therefore, precedence in scheduling than they did – they being
merely an administrative tribunal. They stripped me of my teaching licence,
published my name and their reasons. Now, note, I was not accused of ever
having behaved improperly with a student.**

In an October, 2007 decision, the *Ontario College of Teachers* ruled: “The
panel received evidence that Fromm, while employed in Peel, co-founded and
was research director for *Citizens for Foreign Aid Reform (C-FAR)* and
co-founded the *Canadian Association for Free Expression (CAFE*). Both
organizations espouse beliefs and values contrary to the principles of
multiculturalism and tolerance.” A reader will note the Orwellian irony that
*CAFÉ,* dedicated to the tolerance of freedom of speech, is deemed
intolerant. “During a speech for *C-FAR* in 1989, Fromm discussed the
‘threat to our rights and freedoms from multiculturalism.’

Fromm associated with skinhead supporters at a public meeting of the *Toronto
Mayor’s Committee on Community and Race Relations*; participated in a *Martyrs’
Day Rally* sponsored by the *Heritage Front* in conjunction with *C-FAR*; …
heckled a native Canadian speaker at the 1989 Mayor’s Committee meeting with
‘scalp him’; and attended, organized and spoke at events involving white
supremacists or similar organizations. … Fromm ‘spoke against
multiculturalism and non-white immigration, used racist language in relation
to Jews, Asians and Aboriginal people while participating in public events
involving individuals and organizations with racist views,’ the panel said
in its written decision.”

Recently, the *Toronto Star* has done a series of investigative reports on
the *Ontario College of Teachers*’ handling of real teacher misconduct. The
clear implication from their findings is that you can call a teenage girl a
slut and e-mail her your desires to have sex with her, you’ll still be okay.
However, be an immigration critic or stand up for free speech and you’re
declared unfit to teach in politically correct Ontario.

“If you are a teacher, you can get away with a lot and keep your job.
Toronto high school drama teacher *Richard Burdett* wrote more than 1,300
intimate, sexually charged instant messages to a female high school student,
including a vivid description of how he had dreamt of performing oral sex on
her. On a Grade 11 and 12 school trip to England, Burdett also brought four
pyjama-clad female students into his dormitory bedroom and cuddled on his
bed with them in an activity he called ‘spooning.’ Later, telling one of the
girls his wife would be away for most of July, the then 40-year-old Burdett
messaged, ‘We can throw a spoonfest if you want.’ … For Burdett’s breaches
of trust, the *Toronto District School Board* handed him a 30-day unpaid
suspension in 2007. Burdett was then transferred out of his high school and
sent to a teaching post at Toronto’s Adult Education Centre while his case
meandered through the teachers’ watchdog system (the *Ontario College of
Teachers*). In February of 2011, Burdett was given a 12-month suspension but
told that if he completed a ‘boundary violation’ course he could be back in
class by September. He is now listed as a member in ‘good standing’ and is
cleared to teach again. (*Toronto Star*, October 2, 2011)

“Here are some of the people licensed in Ontario to teach your children:

* A teacher who disciplined students by warning they would ‘spend time with
a pedophile’ and if the behaviour got worse it ‘would be without vaseline.’

* A high school teacher whose female students said he called them ‘sluts,’
pole dancers, ‘whore’ and commented that tongue studs were for ‘oral sex.’ …

* A drunk teacher who sexually assaulted a store clerk.

*A teacher who stole money students deposited with her for school trips to
Europe. …

* A teacher who flirted with a Grade 7 girl, sending her what a judge ruled
(though the teacher was acquitted of sexual assault and exploitation
charges) were ‘sexually charged’ text messages including ‘lots of love’ and
‘can’t stop thinking about you, I didn’t want you to leave today.’

The identity of scores of bad teachers and dozens more each year is kept
secret by the profession’s watchdog — the *Ontario College of
Teachers*. That’s
because the watchdog — a self-regulatory body — granted them anonymity after
the teacher pleaded guilty or ‘no contest’ to certain allegations.
Typically, the teachers received a reprimand or short suspension.

In some cases, a summary is published on the watchdog’s website and in its
quarterly newsletter, without the teacher’s name or school. Some of the
cases — particularly those dealing with incompetence — are never published
at all. … When it comes to keeping secret the names of some offenders, *College
Registrar Michael Salvatori* said it is done if the teacher had a ‘momentary
lapse of judgment.’ Salvatori said that they make the decision in ‘the
public interest.’ Salvatori said College rules prevented him from commenting
on any of the cases.

After the *Star* raised this and other issues with the College this summer,
it hired respected retired judge *Patrick LeSage* just before *Labour
Day*to examine its disciplinary practices. One of LeSage’s jobs is to
“consider
whether the College’s communication and publication practices prior to and
following a hearing meet current standards of transparency.”

To determine how many teachers’ identities are kept secret, the *Star* first
obtained all published decisions of teacher wrongdoing.

Each year, the *Ontario College of Teachers* makes a finding of wrongdoing
in about 90 cases. The *Star* obtained copies of all decisions that the
College makes public on its website or in its magazine. The College said it
publishes these decisions to educate members and show to the public that it
is doing its job of protecting students. More and more, we found, problem
teachers are shielded from the public. Of the 49 cases published in 2010, 35
did not identify the teacher. Of the 43 cases published in 2009, 20 did not
identify the teacher. Of the 38 cases published in 2008, 5 did not identify
the teacher.” (*Toronto Star*, September 29, 2011) They had no compunction
about naming me!

However, the *OCT* does not like whistleblowers. They are ruthlessly
punished and named: “One teacher the College did identify was a teacher
whose only crime was to break their secrecy rules. *James Black*, a teacher
and former discipline committee member, was publicly named by the College
and suspended for two years because the College suspected he leaked
information to the media. The committee suspected (but could not prove) that
Black gave information to a *CTV* reporter in 2006 who was probing the
College’s practice of allowing teachers convicted of sex crimes to be
reinstated after their licence was revoked. The College claims Black leaked
information *to CTV News* about a teacher convicted of sexual exploitation
in 1990, who was jailed 15 months and later sought reinstatement. In 2009,
the committee fined its former member, Black, $1,000, and suspended him for
two years. The College ruled that Black was guilty of a serious ‘breach of
confidentiality’ which ‘may have damaged the professional image of the
College and its members.’ The need for a strong general deterrent is
imperative in this matter.” – *Paul Fromm*