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= NEWS “EDUCATION MINISTER CRITICAL OF HANDLING OF TEACHER CONTROVERSY KRISTIN RUSHOWY ) Toronto Star The Halton school board has not done enough >| to address student safety 0) lucators' = rofessional standart in dealing with the con- =a z a ° 8 t= gs ie g 2 = 8 IFP - Halton ws | Thursday, December 29, 2er who wears oversized fake breasts, the province's education minister said in a rare public rebuke. lany families in the community have ex- pressed profound concern with the management of this issue," Stephen Lecce said on Dec. 19 at an unre: lated | news confere! asked about i shop teacher who dons large prosthetic breasts with protruding nipples underneath revealing shirts. "So we reaffirm our ex- pectation with the school boards, as employers, that they act in the interests of children and they listen ito the voices of: familic S Of | schools, and parent: want their kids to go to emoot and focus 0 on Jearn ing al with Wheat new “ion lockdowns or incidents that are very distracting, and frankly unacceptable, in any school environment in the province.” The situation at Oak- ville Trafalgar High School made international headlines, sparking pro- tests outside of the school an n bomb threats af- ter photos of the trans teacher appeared online. e were stationed at the. school, and staff mem- bers have received death ats. Lecce had asked the On- tario College of Teachers to review and_ "consider Torstar file photo Ontario Education Minister Stephen Lecce rebukes school strengthening" standards, but was told school boards already have the tools they need to do so. "Ido continue to believe that the Halton school board over handling of teacher dress code controversy. board, which is the em- ployer, has an obligation to ensure that these class- rooms are safe and respect- ful places to learn. Teach- ers need to uphold the highest professional stan- dards when they are in front of children," Lecce aid. "I do not believe the joard messages of hate and vio- lence — it has no place in our Schools: " He said “individuals within the Calton board) done so to date, andI do be. lieve the Ontario College of Teachers corroborates this principle. It said the board has the necessary authori- ties to enforce those stan- dards, so I expect them to do s¢ the board has cited the human _ rights choosing not to take any action on the matte! Curtis Ennis, director of education for the Halton District School Board, said in a statement to the Star multiple death threats in the last number of weeks. But to concede to threats from anonymous sources does not uphold human rights, it undermines and regress- es them. Those making the threats are responsible and must be held account- able" and the board is working with police. mmitment to human rights i is rooted in the (board's) core values and commitment to each and every student and staff i i mber toll the ongoing threats continue to have on ents/guardians and stu- dents. It is unsettling that anyone would suggest put- ting the safety of children at risk. We condemn any of an underserved and un- and equity advisers.” theifp.ca 905-247-8282 F ol ® theory TN ES §S Best 1 Hour Workout in The Country! TRY A CLASS FOR FREE! *Local Residents Only ORANGETHEORY FITNESS - GEORGETOWN * Certified Coaches ¢ Guaranteed Results ¢ Science Backed ¢ Technology Tracked ¢ All Fitness Levels © OTFGEORGETOWNCAN Georgetown Marketplace 280 Guelph St