HomeMy WebLinkAboutOntario court overturns decision to revoke former TDSB director’s teaching licence - Globe & Mail - 05/30/2018 - Globe & Mail - 05/30/20185/31/2018 Ontario court overturns decision to revoke former TDSB director's teaching licence - The Globe and Mail
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Ontario court overturns decision to revoke former
TDSB director's teaching licence
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An Ontario court has overturned a decision to revoke the teaching licence of the
disgraced former leader of Canada's largest school board.
In a decision released on Wednesday, a panel of three Ontario Divisional Court
judges ruled that it was "procedurally unfair" for a disciplinary committee of the
Ontario College of Teachers (OCT) to proceed with a hearing for Chris Spence, the
former director of the Toronto District School Board, given his "serious medical
health diagnosis that impaired the appellant's ability to function."
Mr. Spence resigned as education director of the TDSB in January, 2013, amid
allegations of plagiarism.
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In December, 2016, the OCT found him guilty of professional misconduct and
revoked his teaching certificate, its harshest penalty. More recently, an independent
tribunal at the University of Toronto found him guilty of plagiarizing parts of his
1996 dissertation and recommended the university strip him of his doctorate.
Mr. Spence appealed the OCT ruling on his teaching certificate, arguing the process
was unfair. In a written decision, the court ruled that the matter be sent back to the
discipline committee for a new hearing.
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5/31/2018 Ontario court overturns decision to revoke former TDSB director's teaching licence - The Globe and Mail
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Edwards, Mr. Spence's lawyer, said his client was reviewing the decision and was
both "emotional" and "pleased" with the outcome.
The OCT said in an e-mail statement that it, too, would review the decision "to
determine an appropriate course of action, which could include a new hearing to
consider the matter."
Mr. Spence's appeal centred on the process of the OCT discipline hearing and not the
allegations of plagiarism.
According to the written decision, Mr. Spence said he was unable to attend the OCT
hearings and provided a medical report, which indicated he suffered from
depression. He asked for an adjournment.
The discipline committee, however, proceeded with the hearing, indicating that Mr.
Spence was employed full-time and therefore could attend.
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Justice Carolyn Horkins wrote that the discipline committee had "scant" information
of Mr. Spence's employment and yet relied on it to support its decision to proceed
with the hearing. It did not fully consider all the medical evidence, she wrote.
Mr. Spence's family doctor, for example, described his mental state as "precarious,"
the judge wrote, and advised against participating in the disciplinary hearings "at
this time." Mr. Spence was diagnosed with a major depressive disorder that
"significantly impacted his functioning," according to the decision.
Justice Horkins found the OCT disciplinary panel was not accommodating.
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5/31/2018 Ontario court overturns decision to revoke former TDSB director's teaching licence - The Globe and Mail
Mr. Spence was often described as an inspirational leader who had a natural ability
to connect with students. During his time at the TDSB, he proposed the idea of a
boys' academy as part of a strategy to help struggling students and he was a key
advocate for the board's first Africentric school.
The allegations against Mr. Spence first surfaced when a Toronto Star reader alerted
the newspaper that an article by Mr. Spence appeared to have been plagiarized. That
drew attention to his other work, including his blog at the TDSB.
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In an earlier statement, Mr. Spence said while he took full responsibility for the
articles and blog pieces that carried his name, copying the works of others was a
result of "unintentional" and "reckless" mistakes. At the same time, he alluded to
having help with his writing and that this assistance was the source of some of the
material that led to allegations of plagiarism.
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Former TDSB director guilty of plagiarizing his PhD, panel says
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5/31/2018 Ontario court overturns decision to revoke former TDSB director's teaching licence - The Globe and Mail
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5/31/2018 Ontario court overturns decision to revoke former TDSB director's teaching licence - The Globe and Mail
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