News and News Releases

The Ontario College of Teachers’ mandate prioritizes student safety and wellbeing above all else, and we cannot overstate the importance of maintaining appropriate professional boundaries. Unfortunately, breaches in this area remain an issue within the teaching profession.

The College is also committed to ongoing teacher education and, per one of our mandated objects: “To provide for the ongoing education of members of the College.” We do this a number of ways, including through the creation of Additional Qualification guidelines and professional advice in the form of professional advisories.

Our latest advisory on Professional Boundaries, which was distributed with the December issue of Professionally Speaking/Pour parler profession, focuses on boundaries between educators and their students, and aims to clarify any grey areas. Included in this advice are various examples of violations on page 3, which includes but is not limited to physical contact.

Our aim is to raise awareness of the serious nature of the advisory.

We recognize that the photo on the cover of the magazine is provocative and staff chose it for that purpose. The College wanted to draw attention to the importance of the professional advisory and saw a visually compelling photo as one way to do that. However, we also recognize that some readers may find the cover offensive.

The College understands the immense pressure teachers are under. We recognize that the overwhelming majority of Ontario Certified Teachers exemplify the high standards of practice to which the College holds the profession. The importance of the content should not be overshadowed by the cover. Professional advisories provide support to Ontario Certified Teachers through practical advice to help them uphold those standards at all times.

Chantal Bélisle, OCT
Deputy Registrar