After launching ethics4teachers.ca about a month ago, a number of events have transpired which indicated a need to expand the scope of this project, both in terms of geography and access to methods of redress. Without going into too much detail here, I’d just like to repost what was once the front page of ethics4teachers:<\/p>\n
The purpose of this campaign is to encourage educators to acknowledge the damaging effects of masking on the educational and social development of our children. Ideally, this will lead to the relaxation of in-school mask mandates and the resumption of normal, healthy communication between teachers and the children entrusted to their care.<\/p>\n
On March 17, 2020, Premieres across the country declared states of emergency in their respective jurisdictions. Teachers, along with the rest of us, were unsure about the magnitude of the thread COVID-19 posed. Accordingly, we all took the actions we were told would help \u201cflatten the curve\u201d and avoid overwhelming our medical system.<\/p>\n
Since that time, it has become abundantly obvious to all that the threat has been overblown and indeed, that the measures being implemented to counter the effects of a moderately bad flu are causing harm many times in excess of that caused by Covid-19 itself. The negative effects of masking on the educational and social development of our children are among these.<\/p>\n
Irrespective of the necessity and validity (or lack thereof) of the measures which our government has imposed, teachers who are members of the various Canadian Teachers\u2019 Associations are obligated to act in accordance with the standards outlined in their association\u2019s Codes of Professional Conduct.<\/p>\n
In this regard, it is posited that any teacher who fails to raise concerns about the educational impact of mandated face coverings on their ability to educate students is guilty of contravening at least one and sometimes several clauses in their respective codes of conduct. I\u2019m not even going to mention actual criminal complaints for child abuse, practicing medicine without a license, or reckless endangerment. I\u2019m no lawyer, but there are many already working tirelessly to bring those responsible for this outrage to justice.<\/p>\n