Ontario’s Education Minister, Stephen Lecce, has revealed that the Halton District School Board has tried enough in ensuring the safety of students of an Oakville high school where death threats are persistently received over the presence of a transgender teacher who dressed provocatively.
While speaking to the media recently, Lecce said he felt the Board could enforce workplace standards against the teacher, Kayla Lemieux.
It should be recalled that Kerry Lemieux, a teacher surprised students at Oakville-Trafalgar High School some months back by wearing oversized prosthetic breasts, tight clothing and a blonde wig into the class.
The persistent wearing of the outfit has brought the school global attention and some parent groups have requested Lemieux’s removal from teaching.
In spite of the protests, the Board has made it known it cannot discipline the teacher over fears of human rights violations.
The response of the Board has generated protests at the school alongside death threats and bomb scares.
While responding to the Minister’s request to intervene, the Ontario College of Teachers (OCT) says that current workplace standards and governing legislation take care of teacher professionalism in the classroom and how they should conduct themselves.
In its report to the Minister, the OCT said: “All Ontario certified teachers, in their position of trust, are expected to demonstrate responsibility and sound judgment in their relationships with students, parents, guardians, colleagues, educational partners, other professionals, the learning environment and the public. Teachers are required to uphold the standards of their professional practice and ethical standards both in and out of the classroom.”
The OCT noted that it has not gotten a specific complaint about the teacher.
Lecce revealed further that the Oakville-Trafalgar school community is extremely disappointed with how the Board has handled the situation, and he agrees. While making reference to the OCT report, he said he believes the Halton District School Board has the power to enforce employment standards in respect of the school’s current situation.
Lecce added that the Board must ensure that classrooms are safe, learning environments must be respectful and teachers must uphold “the highest professional standards” when on the job.
The Board has not responded to the OCT report or Lecce’s remarks.
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