a child to cover all problems that a member suspects about that child’s health, safety, or risk of 
harm.

What happens if a member fails to make a report to a Children’s Aid Society?

It is 

a provincial offence for a member to fail to report. If convicted, this can lead to a fine of up to 

$1000. In order to be found guilty, the failure to report must concern information or suspicions that a 
member learned of through his or her professional duties, and does not apply to volunteering or work 
outside of his or her role as a member, according to the courts of Ontario. It does not normally involve 
information learned outside of teaching, off duty.

It is also a 

breach of a member’s professional obligations to fail to report to the CAS. Failing to report 

can lead to a complaint under the Ontario College of Teachers Act Regulation 437/97 – Professional 
Misconduct states that it is professional misconduct to fail a duty under the CFSA. This includes failing 
the duty to report. Consequences for a teacher could include a variety of penalties under the College of 
Teachers’ Act, depending on the circumstances of the failure to report.

Bill 157 – Keeping Our Kids Safe at School Act

Bill 157 also obligates members who become aware that a pupil of a school of the board may have 
engaged in an activity described in subsection 306(1) or 310(1) of the Education Act (suspension and 
expulsion offences) shall, as soon as reasonably possible, report to the principal about the matter.

Professional Boundaries

Failure to understand professional boundaries can lead any member to make serious mistakes 

career threatening ones – in the management of teacher-student relationships.

Any act of professional misconduct can lead to disciplinary measures being taken by the Ontario College 
of Teachers (OCT). Even an unfounded allegation of professional misconduct could be permanently 
damaging to a teacher, to the teacher’s family, and to the profession.

Professional Boundaries Defined

The term “Professional Boundaries” is not easily defined. When teachers were asked how they understood 
the term, ETFO learned that it can mean different things to different people. Some common responses 
were –

O violation of the position of trust;
O abuse of power in a teacher’s relationship with a child; and
O teachers using their relationship to meet their own needs instead of the needs of their students.

The most extreme form of boundary violation is that of sexual abuse against a student. Sexual abuse 
represents the ultimate breach of the trust placed on a teacher.

The Onus is On the Teacher

Teachers are responsible for recognizing in themselves whether they are “at risk” of crossing boundaries 
and, if they are, the issue must be addressed. This makes the issue an important and potentially 
dangerous one for teachers.

If you have any 
questions or 
concerns about your 
ethical obligations, 
or are considering 
filing an adverse 
report about 
colleague and want 
to discuss it, contact 
staff in professional 
relations (PRS) at 
416-962-3836 or 
1-888-838-3836. 

73

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ELEMENTARY TEACHERS’ FEDERATION OF ONTARIO 

2014-2015

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