The Toronto Star - Saturday, October 1, 2011

Re: Bad Teachers, Ontario's secret list, September 30th

As the presidents of three of Ontario's teacher federations, we, like the readers of the Toronto Star, abhor the behaviours outlined in the above mentioned articles. However, these behaviours are not reflective of the majority of the 200,000 plus certified Ontario teachers who maintain the highest standards of professionalism each and every day.

Teachers are entitled to due process in the event that they are alleged to have breached these standards. While the processes for disciplinary action rest with the Ontario College of Teachers, it is important to note that those proceedings are transparent and accessible and often do result in the termination of employment as noted by Mr. Donovan.

Our goal remains to ensure that the best, most capable teachers are in Ontario's classrooms. That is why, as professional associations, we also emphasize the professional development of our members, including education about professional standards and boundaries. We agree that even one instance of reprehensible behaviour is too many and we work with our members to achieve this outcome.

Sam Hammond
Elementary Teachers' Federation of Ontario

Kevin O'Dwyer
Ontario English Catholic Teachers Association

Ken Coran
Ontario Secondary School Teachers' Federation