Ford is just itching for a fight with Ontario teachers

A snitch line? Really?

Look, Doug Ford ran on repealing Ontario’s sexeducation curriculum, implemented by the Wynne Liberals after consulting with 4,000 or so teachers, parents and professionals.

He was wrong to do that. He basically did it because he promised he would to social conservatives who supported his leadership bid. He owed them, and he paid.

There was nothing wrong with the previous curriculum. This was all about paying a political debt.

That said, he did run on the promise, and he can legitimately claim to have a mandate to do so. According to recent public opinion polls, up to 40 per cent of Ontarians didn’t like the new curriculum. That means 60 per cent did. But we elected Doug Ford anyway, presumably for other reasons. We can’t now claim to be surprised.

But as with so much of what Ford has done, it’s as much about how he did it as it is about what he did.

He killed the old curriculum and replaced it with one that is so old it is, literally, dangerous to kids. Kids up to Grade 8 won’t learn about sexting, online predators and other things that could harm them. That’s beyond irresponsible, it could even be actionable.

Don’t children have the right to all reasonable protections in education? Doesn’t the Constitution or human rights code guarantee such protections to all Canadians?

Those who believe so — including teacher unions and countless educators and professionals — have reacted with understandable anger.

Some teacher unions have said they will defend any teachers who decide to do the best thing for their students as opposed to what Ford wants.

Hence, the snitch line, which is actually a snitch site where you give your personal information and the nature of the complaint.

This is really Ford picking a fight with teachers. He studied at the knee of Mike Harris-era conservatives, including Harris’ education hit man, John Snobelen, who admitted he planned to create a crisis in public education so he could then clamp down on teachers.

We all know the legacy of Harris and Snobelen — bitter relations with teachers, work stoppages and children being used as pawns by all combatants. This is what Doug Ford wants to return to. The snitch line is only the beginning.

Suppose you are a parent who wants to complain about a teacher. You could complain to the teacher. You could go to the principal. You could go the school’s parent council. You could complain to the school board superintendent, each of whom has a group of schools to oversee. Then there’s your local school trustee. Then there’s the Ontario College of Teachers.

The point is, there is no shortage of channels already available to parents. This isn’t about that, it’s about Doug Ford putting up his dukes and daring teachers to cross him.

Teachers, largely through their unions, aren’t easily pushed around. We have often disagreed with their strategies and tactics, especially when education is disrupted. But in this case, they can legitimately claim to be on the side of our kids. If Ford wants a fight, he’ll probably get it. But it won’t be the fault of teachers or their unions. Doug Ford owns this.

Kids up to Grade 8 won’t learn about sexting, online predators and other things that could harm them. That’s beyond irresponsible, it could even be actionable.