A rather old story is just coming to light today,the first day of school for most students here in the Greater Toronto Area.It's old in the sense that the events causing the controversy happened more than a year ago.But it raises some issues with respect to teacher conduct,both in general,and in reference to this particular incident.
It seems that a group of teachers from Markham,Ontario,a northern suburb of Toronto were out enjoying themselves one evening,more than a year ago.Let's be clear about this.It was on their own time.They were involved in a recreational ax throwing contest,at the conclusion of which they pose for a picture which shows them prominently displaying extended middle fingers.Apparently this is a tradition in ax throwing.Who would have guessed? And that may be an esoteric fact,or just an excuse,or perhaps both.
Now,it seems,a group of parents are concerned about the behavior.And I would suggest that it's not without some justification,though I'm uncertain just how many would agree with me in this day and time.However nostalgic it may seem,in my school years,teachers were expected to teach professionally and to maintain a dignified presence in their community at all times.Let me be the first to suggest that a dignified presence really does matter.
Children spend a significant amount of time in the presence of teachers during their formative years.Next to perhaps parents and siblings,few have greater influence in a child's life.So,they are role models,whether they want to be or not.They must conduct themselves accordingly at all times.Simply,they must ask the question:would I recommend that one of my students engage in the behavior I'm undertaking? If the answer is no,then why are you doing it.Now surely the answer,respecting the display of ones middle finger,tradition aside,is no.Would such behavior be encouraged or even tolerated in a school hallway or playground.Perhaps things have changed since I've graced the school grounds.If so,too bad.That's everyone's loss.The middle finger gesture is universally understood,as far as it's literal meaning is concerned.It is also a last resort of the chronically rude,the ignorant and the inarticulate.All concepts best not associated with either teaching or role modeling.
Of further concern in this matter is how the incident came to light,and how long it took.To finally bring this incident to public attention required the filing of a freedom of information request.It is said,however that the picture in question was taken by a student,and therein lies an additional level of concern.If these activities were being conducted on teachers own time,and no one seems to be disputing that,how did a student come to have,or take the picture in question.This would seem to be a matter of keeping an appropriate professional distance between students and teachers.In our day that doesn't seem to be as clear cut an issue as it was in years past.However,I expect that the school board in question has developed and articulates guidelines in this regard.I would be interested in knowing if those guidelines are ,in fact in place and if they were complied with in this incident.
The fact that it took so long for this incident to come to public attention would tend to make me think that some of the participants saw some wrong,or at least some possibility for embarrassment in their actions.In that event,I ask again:why are you doing it then? Further,what efforts,if any were exerted to discourage or prevent the student involved from coming forward sooner.This,in my estimation is the more serious concern regarding this incident,and it should be fully investigated.It would seem that this student was in the presence of these teachers,and perhaps some higher up administrators as well for some time after the incident.And to be clear,I am merely indicating concern,not pointing out wrong doing.But the questions here are many.Did the student come under any sort of duress as the result of this incident? Was there any question in the students mind that any adverse possibilities existed regarding academic standing as a result of his having taken the picture in question? Was the student subjected to any kind of ridicule?Any kind of coercion? Were the expressed parental/family values of the student respected or violated? Were it not for the incident,these questions would not now be in everyone's mind.Even though the conduct may not have been wrong,it is still questionable.
Again,I may be a relic of some by-gone age,but I believe that some professions,including teaching require a higher level of discretion and decorum.That derives directly out of a teachers power to influence children through their own behavior.Yes,there is a difference between public and private conduct.There are places where no one should be allowed to inquire,and it's fairly obvious in most cases what that entails.But some behavior becomes public because those participating in have chosen to make it so.And,if you've chosen to publicize your behavior,in the manner of these teachers,inquiry then becomes a matter of fair play.The concerns of parents and the wider public also become a matter of legitimate concern and comment.
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