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Published: October 13, 2022
The Ontario Teachers' Licensing and Regulatory Council approved a review of its professional standards after controversy over a high school teacher wearing huge artificial breasts for class with barely restrained prominent nipples in tight clothing. The attire of the industrial arts teacher, a transgender individual at Oakville Trafalgar High School, west of Toronto, sparked an online and worldwide frenzy fueled by images and videos circulating among students on social media. Ontario's Education Minister, Stephen Lecce, also requested the Ontario College of Teachers on September 26 to review and study strengthening the provisions of professional conduct. The college reviewed its professional standards in response to Minister Lecce's request. Andrew Fyfeild, the college's spokesperson, said, "We will provide our response to the minister when it is ready." The results are expected to be shared with Lecce this month. Also, Fyfeild added that the college cannot comment on individual teachers, schools, or school boards as the controversy continues, both online and in person. Activists and commentators adopted this issue, and at a Halton District School Board meeting on Wednesday evening, David Menzies, in his Rebel News persona, appeared wearing an outfit resembling a teacher’s attire. At the board meeting, Menzies stood and tried to submit a petition demanding the dismissal of the board and the board's education director, as a security officer approached him at the request of Margo Chatworth, the board's chair. Chatworth then called for a 20-minute recess. Afterwards, she apologized to those remaining at the meeting, adding: "You shouldn’t have had to go through that." Similarly, there was a question from attendees about dress code near the end of the four-hour meeting, most of which was held in private, as questions must be submitted in writing in advance, and the specific question was not read aloud. The board said a report on dress codes in Halton schools had been previously requested. Sari Taha, the human resources supervisor, said the report was expected to be presented at the first board meeting in November. The college also does not have authority over school boards but licenses and regulates the teaching profession for publicly funded schools in the province, including issuing, suspending, and revoking teaching certificates, setting ethical standards and practice standards, and investigating complaints related to members, as teachers must hold a valid teaching certificate. On the other hand, Oakville High School refused to provide any new information about the situation, including questions about the teacher’s status, considering it a private and confidential matter.
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