Teachers challenge ‘snitch line’

TORONTO — One of Ontario’s largest teacher’s union has launched a legal challenge against the government’s decision to repeal a modernized version of the province’s sexual-education curriculum.

The Elementary Teachers’ Federation of Ontario said Tuesday — the first day of the school year in the province — it is seeking an injunction to keep the curriculum in place and to stop what it calls the government’s “snitch line,” where parents can report non-compliant teachers.

Union president Sam Hammond said the government’s changes to the curriculum are reckless and put students at risk. He said the union’s legal action is vital to ensure that educators and school boards can continue to protect the safety and health of students. “It also seeks to stop the operation of this unnecessary and counterproductive complaint or snitch line,” he said.

Ontario’s Progressive Conservative government says teachers who use the modernized version of the lesson plan, put in place by the Liberals in 2015, will face consequences. The plan to scrap the 2015 sex-ed curriculum was announced in July, fulfilling one of Premier Doug Ford’s key campaign promises.

“In a worst-case scenario, this snitch line would allow anonymous parents, or anyone as a matter of fact, to target any teacher for any reason,” Hammond said. “The potential for abuse is enormous.”