The province’s Child and Youth Advocate is shining light on a gap in addressing student complaints of alleged teacher misconduct.
Jackie Lake Kavanaugh says she is concerned with the response, policies and public accountability concerning allegations of teacher misconduct that aren’t criminal in nature.
The Child and Youth Advocate has identified a number of deficiencies, including the need for a Code of Conduct within the provincial Schools Act that identifies behavioural expectations and consequences for teachers and school staff.
The current Code of Conduct only identifies expectations and consequences for students.
She says when a student or their family makes a complaint about a teacher’s conduct, the English School District does not have specific student-centered protocol and process for such investigations, nor any personnel with specialized interview expertise with children.
Lake Kavanaugh says the outcome of human resource issues and investigations is currently not reported to complainants.
Finally, Lake Kavanagh says there is no independent public complaint and disciplinary mechanism in place for teachers, unlike other professions like doctors, lawyers, social workers, police, psychologists and nurses.
Lake Kavanagh says the Department of Education and the English School District are both aware of those concerns, and she says they must be addressed because of the position of power and trust teachers have.
We are concerned.
Media Statement – Better Responses Needed in Student Complaints of Teacher Misconducthttps://t.co/IUTIdLaKuj
— NL Child & Youth Advocate (@OCYANL) November 25, 2021
The school district says it has a Code of Ethics and Conduct for all employees which is available online. A spokesperson for the school district says it is also aware that employees who are members of the NLTA have a professional Code of Ethics under the union.
The NLESD says it takes any report of employee misconduct very seriously, regardless of where the complaint originates, and any allegation is thoroughly investigated by human resources personnel and, if warranted, referred to law enforcement.
