Ontario College of Teacher release professional advisory and additional qualification guidelines

BY PAUL JUNOR

The release of the Ontario College of Teacher (OCT) professional advisory on anti-Black racism is timely and fitting given the current climate of racial awareness.

Derek Haime, registrar of the OCT, states in a report in the December 2021 monthly issue of Professionally Speaking, “The OCT has an on-going and long-standing commitment to anti-oppression, equity and inclusion. Our work to eradicate injustices in the province’s education system address all forms of discriminatory behaviour, including anti-Black racism.”

It was in November 2020 that the OCT started the process to ensure that hatred was labelled a form of professional misconduct. This decision came after there was public pressure by the diverse Black community, activist and advocacy groups to bring changes to recognizing the racial aspects of this hatred. The update “applies to conduct and/or remarks made to anyone inside or outside the classroom, on duty or off, and via electronic means. Allegations of hatred will be subject to the College’s established practice of investigation and, if warranted, public hearing and resolution.”

It was largely due to the phenomenal and instrumental work of Amorell Saunders N’Daw, a journalist and partner at KBRS. She notes that the purpose of the advisory was to “Talk about ways we can create safe, welcoming, inclusive spaces for learning everybody, particularly students from traditionally marginalized communities who face the impacts of systemic racism.”

Karen Murray, the centrally assigned principal for the Centre of Excellence for Black Student Achievement at the Toronto District School Board (TDSB) contributed significantly to the development of the AQ guidelines. She told Professional Speaking, “This is an important conversation that we want to move intentionally to practise. We want to create the conditions for staff and students to teach and talk about racism. This AQ can provide the tools to enable educators to become comfortable in engaging in anti-Black racism pedagogy.”

The introduction to the professional advisory notes that the term anti-Black racism was formulated by a well-known Black female activist, former professor in the Social Work Department and one of the co-founders of the Black Action Defence Committee (BADC). The amendment to the Ontario College of Teachers Act, 1996 (OCTA), which made this advisory possible was designed to “put a stop to discrimination both in and out of the classroom.”

The introduction notes that OCT “recognizes that it takes a systemic approach to take meaningful action on anti-Black racism. Collective efforts not only by teachers, but by principals, vice-principals, and staff, are necessary to address anti-Black racism.”

There is an overarching and encompassing vision of the advisory to “provide support in creating inclusive and supportive learning cultures that benefit all students, regardless of their identity.” The advisory provides an extensive background of resources from several sources such as: Ontario’s Anti-Racism Strategy, City of Toronto-Confronting Anti-Black Racism Unit (CABR), Canada’s Anti-Racism Strategy, People for Education and the Ontario Human Rights Commission. There is a list of definitions of terms as well, as self-reflective practice that educators can use to critically think about anti-Black racism.