TOXIC.D.S.B. - Mass Email, April 11, 2024
- heffernanca
- 24 hours ago
- 13 min read
*****Please note: I really didn't want such a negative post to be my first blog entry. However, I feel I have been given no choice in the matter at this time. I will clarify my statement in future blog posts. Thank you for understanding.*****
TOXIC.D.S.B.
A “Culture of Fear” - Julian Falconer 2008 report
A “Culture of Fear” - Ernst & Young 2013 forensic audit
A “Culture of Fear” - Education consultant Margaret Wilson, in her 2015 report to Ontario Minister of Education Liz Sandals
“Where people are telling lies, we should not be fearful to correct them. And where people are fearful – and genuine reasons to be so do keep coming along – people should remind themselves of something. Which is that just as bravery in one person instills bravery in others, so cowardice in one person has a tendency to be catching” - Douglas Murray
For over a decade, I have worked at the Toronto District School Board as a Supply Teacher covering various departments at a variety of schools. Over the years, I have worked tirelessly and beyond my job description to build a very positive reputation with Teachers, Staff and Students, earning top spots on schools coveted “Internal Preferred Occasional Teacher (O.T.) Lists”, making me one of the most sought after and popular supply teachers in the G.T.A.
On average I would acquire 150 + working days as a daily occasional teacher out of 180 + school days in the year without an L.T.O. (Long-Term Occasional) position and even during years involving work action and temporary slowdowns: an exceedingly high number of assignments for a daily occasional teacher.
In all that time, I have never applied for placement on the Long-Term Occasional teaching list. Yet, every year I received approximately three calls from school Administrators regarding L.T.O. positions because of the work I put into creating a well-earned reputation for classroom management amongst teaching staff and students (I’ve had students walk into the Admin Office to request me - and at one school - I even had my own desk in a departmental office: how many daily supply teachers can say that?).
All that ended abruptly after events at two schools: Malvern Collegiate Institute and Rosedale School of the Arts.
While on assignment at Malvern, I was accosted by a teacher in 2018, harassed throughout the year, intimidated by the Administration who instead investigated me and threatened me, had crazy and baseless allegations made against me, and suffered significantly as a target of continuing reprisals that have affected me medically, both physically and mentally, as well as financially, leaving me bankrupt.
Meanwhile, at Rosedale, I became the focus of a campaign of harassment by staff, which included false allegations and stalking (a former Teacher who stalked me at work has since been charged with Sexual assault against students by the Metropolitan Toronto Police).
Even though I am still employed by the TDSB, the last year I was able to work was in 2019, when my job assignments dropped from an average of 150 + a year to only 8 jobs because of reprisals, with the government’s pandemic restrictions being the only thing that saved my job.
Since then, I was forced to seek part-time employment overnight in Loblaw’s Meat Department for a time and am now jobless as I care for my 90-year-old elderly Mother at her home in Mississauga. My Mother is a survivor of colon cancer surgery and multiple strokes (one of which occurred in front of me as I sat and spoke with her during a visit).
Until recently, I had a small window of opportunity to work and complete my required days under my Collective Agreement to retain my job: my brother is a Seasonal worker, and he could have looked after my mother as I accepted daily occasional teaching assignments. However, that time has passed, and the window is now closed.
Currently, I am blocked from accepting assignments on the Smartfind Express system with no help from my so-called Union representation. After I have again reached out to various administrators and people of position for assistance to reenter the workplace safely, I am instead being ghosted and have been left unable to support myself.
At this point, despite my continuing efforts, my Doctor and I cannot see how I can resume work with no satisfactory solution in sight. Serious workplace and Human Rights issues are being ignored, buried, and unresolved, while I am allowed to be the target of continuous persecution.
I am a well-educated 56-year-old man who has suffered many indignities over the last 5 years, and truth be told, would be homeless if it were not for my mother’s financial help.
*****
“It is not necessary to bury the truth. It is sufficient merely to delay it until nobody cares” - Napoleon Bonaparte.
In 2019, I filed complaints with the T.D.S.B.’s Human Rights Office only to discover that it is not what it purports to be and is – as far as I can ascertain through my experience - a litigation assessment centre for the T.D.S.B. Here, you are asked to provide information that would be best to reserve for legal counsel and to keep it confidential. I do not advise anyone to use this Office.
Over the last few years, they have dragged their heels regarding my filing, citing an endless number of excuses, ranging from a high staff turnover rate, the pandemic and remote work, etc. In a phone conversation, I even caught one of their Officers for not reading my file after already passing judgment on closing the file to clear his workload (as was the case with my last Union representative).
As 2024 begins, I have endeavoured to communicate my predicament professionally only to encounter continuous barriers on the part of the H.R.O., Executive T.D.S.B. Administrators, and my Union, the O.S.S.T.F.
According to the literature provided by the T.D.S.B.'s Human Rights Office, "All individuals who participate in this process are entitled to be free from reprisal for having participated, including filing a complaint."
However, after repeatedly stalling my filings for over 5 years, suppressing my complaints, separating and burying my files, promoting my harassers, disregarding my witness (never speaking with her), ignoring their own Human Rights Officer’s assessments and performing half-assed investigations whereby an investigator from an outside law firm essentially just asks the abuser, “Is this true?”, and then accepts a denial without reproach, no in-depth questioning, application of common sense or any substantiating evidence to back it up, I have been left destitute with no allowance to counter and appeal by T.D.S.B. Superintendents.
In fact, one former Superintendent abandoned his investigation duties assigned to me – without notice - to work as an Educational Consultant for the Ministry of Education. At the conclusion of a ZOOM meeting, he even went so far as to swear when he thought his microphone was switched off (which I immediately reported to my then OTBUD12 representative), and to ignore any follow up inquiries I’ve made regarding his handling of my case via LinkedIn after I discovered his abrupt retirement).
Until now, I have taken multiple steps to address these issues and have patiently awaited outcomes over an exceedingly long period of time, much to my detriment. Consequently, parts of my filings that were assessed by a Human Rights Officer and forwarded to be investigated were instead either separated, not investigated, buried and/or ignored by the H.R.O., as well as Employee Services and various Executive Superintendents of Education.
So far, the outcomes I infer to are contrary to T.D.S.B. policy (P034), T.D.S.B. Human Rights Policy (P.031) and Guidelines, the O.S.S.T.F. Anti-Harassment statement and policy, the Ontario Labour Relations Board policies, as well as those outlined by the Ontario Human Rights Tribunal, which assures a secure and safe work environment free of retribution.
*****
“The less a person knows about the social institutions in his society, the more he must trust those who wield power in it; and the more he trusts those who wield such power, the more vulnerable he makes himself to becoming their victim.” - Szasz, Thomas (psychiatrist, academic)
Throughout my ordeal, I have had no help from my Union (I've spoken with and emailed OSSTF Executive multiple times seeking help to no avail). Instead, members of my Local (OTBU District 12) have tried to interfere with my legal representation (I overheard an Executive member yelling aggressively at my OSSTF assigned lawyer, while I stood in the hallway outside of the door of the OTBUD12’s exclusive apartment headquarters that are normally inaccessible to members. Upon entering, and realizing that I overheard him he stated, “He’s just trying to extra-bill", and said, “Can’t stand that guy.”).
Furthermore, they stipulated that I must alert the perpetrators of my complaints or be barred from future participation in my Union - opening me up to escalated harassment – only to later bar me from my membership voting rights and general meetings for a lack of workdays (yet still expected me to pay Union dues).
An Executive member of my Local made ethnic slurs against my Irish heritage and provided fake notations from O.T.R. (Opportunity to Respond) meetings. Twice they spoke to me about other members' confidential cases and on more than one occasion acted in the interests and accommodation of Management.
*I mentioned being the target of ethnic slurs against my Irish heritage by an Executive member of my Local Union – the OTBUD12. Preceding an Opportunity to Respond meeting at Malvern CI, he advised me to “not” – if you can believe it - “go all Irish” (the act of completely losing your mind for a period of time, releasing Irish fury upon those around you) while in the meeting, even though I’ve never previously expressed such a temperament and have always maintained a professional composure throughout my ordeal and career.
Needless to say, I was astonished by the remark, and would later block the same Union representative on Facebook, after he tried to do a “search” of my profile for his personal investigation/agenda (a tactic I’ve learned is quite common with administrators, as well as nosy Union members and fellow teaching colleagues, looking to catch you out for inappropriate posts or friend connections. A word of caution, the Facebook platform actively seeks to make “connections”, so it will ask me if I know you when you try to do a “search” of my profile. So, you can’t hide, and I know who you are!). *
Immediately after exonerating my abusers, I started getting threatening emails from a Principal I’ve never worked for or even met, alleging misconduct for receiving internal school emails sent to me as I was kept on their internal server through no choice of my own due to a previous L.T.O. She is Facebook friends with the Teacher that accosted me, as well as the former Superintendent that swore at me.
The principal has ignored my doctor’s request for reasonable accommodation, and to submit any questions she has regarding the matter in written form through my Union: an unreasonable and contrary stance that was supported by my OTBUD12 representative. Consequently, she has emboldened herself and instead of submitting her questions in written form, she has resorted to bullying tactics by calling and harassing me using a hidden “Private Number” as identification, trying to get me to answer her questions. She did so as my sister – who works for the Police, was sitting with me and my mother at my mother’s home.
Since directing a hidden call to me several times, she has blocked me from acquiring assignments and earning a supporting income, again ignoring my doctor’s medical requests for accommodation and fulfilling my obligations for compulsory workdays under my collective agreement. This action is again supported by my Union.
According to Malvern’s own Code of Conduct - published on their website - “The Malvern community stands together to recognize that we are all entitled to a life of equality, dignity and respect. All should feel safe at school and deserve a positive school climate that is inclusive and accepting.”
“Everyone has the right to feel safe and secure. To support this right, everyone is expected to abide by all school rules, practices, policies - as well as criminal codes – all of which serve to protect all members of the school community. Please refer to the chart of consequences following the code of conduct.”
Included in the chart is the following:
“Violence, threats of violence, verbal or physical aggression, intimidation and bullying can result in serious consequences including police involvement.”
“Bullying is aggressive and typically repeated behaviour (physical, verbal, electronic, written or other means) where the behaviour is intended to have the effect of, or the person ought to know that the behaviour would be likely to have the effect of, causing harm, fear or distress to an individual, or harm to an individual’s reputation. Bullying creates a negative environment at a school for an individual, and the behaviour occurs where there is a real or perceived power imbalance.”
As a result, orchestrated and ongoing harassment and reprisals have put me under significant psychological stress. My working conditions have been purposely made to be so troubled and problematic for me to continue that I have effectively been forced into quietly resigning through a process of constructive discharge—whereby my employer and administrators have actively made my working conditions so unpleasant that they have forced me to quit. I have learned that this practice falls under the umbrella term of “quiet firing,” following procedures that would neglect an employee through divesting time, opportunities, or resources away from a worker in a more passive approach that would prompt a resignation. Consequently, I have returned my OSSTF membership by mail in protest and I have not renewed my teaching license with the Ontario College of Teachers for the 2023/24 school year (having been prevented from working since 2019, what’s the point?).
*****
So, what am I to do?
Currently, when I can get time as I care for my elderly Mother, I am engaged in a lengthy process of gathering information and assembling it coherently for presentation and submission to a Law firm ... as well as various forums and diverse organizations ... such as the Ontario Labour Board, the Ontario Human Rights Commission, and the Ontario College of Teachers.
*****
“Remove yourself from anywhere you don’t feel valued.”
This is a powerful motivational statement I read. It emphasizes the importance of self-worth and self-respect. It is essential to surround ourselves with people and environments that uplift us and make us feel valued. Certainly, I believe it is a cornerstone of a learning environment.
*Ironically, an O.S.S.T.F. President once wrote in a statement to The Canadian Press: "We need to have good working conditions so that we are attracting and retaining qualified professionals.”
Over the last few years, my working conditions have placed me in situations where I don’t feel valued, and it has forced me to re-evaluate priorities and make some changes. I deserve to be treated with respect and kindness, and I need to remember that I have the power to create a life that reflects my worth.
The multiple steps I have taken to address systemic issues in the educational workplace over an exceedingly long period have come at a great expense to my well-being. I think I am a good person who doesn’t deserve the indignity I have been subjected to in what is supposed to be a professional workplace: A good dog can only be kicked into a corner so many times before it is forced to bite back. I think it’s time I took back control of my life story. No job, no income, no future, what more can I possibly lose?
*****
My story …
The long story - over several years - has evolved and become a complicated and intricate web that now includes – believe it or not – the Danforth shooting, gun selling, anonymous phone calls, stalking, fake witnesses - teachers misleading, managing, and manipulating students for personal agendas – sexism, sexual harassment and misconduct and the White Ribbon Campaign – racism, criminal behavior – bias, negligence, dereliction of duty - buried filings within the T.D.S.B.’s Human Rights Office and Employee Services, baseless denials for appeals, attempts to override due process and countermand established policy and protocols, and the neglection of responsibility by Senior T.D.S.B. Administrators (one of which, as I’ve said, swore at me when he thought he was disconnected in a ZOOM meeting and now works as an Education Consultant for the Ministry of Education), etc.
The short story is that I asked for a “Course Outline” and “Lesson Plans” in September of 2018 and suffered incredibly as a result. As the focus of a continuing campaign of harassment and reprisals in the workplace, I have lost all that I have strived to accomplish throughout my years of service. Certainly, my efforts to impart a positive reputation to Teachers, Staff, and Students have been irrevocably harmed. If it wasn’t happening to me, I would have a hard time believing it was possible.
If it happened to me, it could happen to you.
Would you like to hear the long story? Family, friends, and colleagues think it is significant to the public interest.
*****
“F-E-A-R HAS TWO MEANINGS: Forget-Everything-And-Run or Face-Everything-And-Rise. THE CHOICE IS YOURS.” - Zig Ziglar
I choose the latter. In the new year, you can read my story and learn about these events in further detail and more on my website https://mrheffernan.com, currently under construction. Here, I will make my memoirs available to the public, as well as Education students enrolled at various teaching colleges throughout Ontario, to get a truthful understanding of how the educational system in Ontario works.
Finally, I want to say that no one can accuse me of not giving those involved a chance to do the right thing.
Both the T.D.S.B. and the O.S.S.T.F. failed to take steps to discipline those who harassed me and have instead implemented barriers to protect them from accountability, to represent them, even promote them, or allow them to quietly retire.
*****
“If I walk by myself, at least I know I'm with somebody I can trust, In the stillness of my heart, in the silence, I adjust. The world may swirl around me, with its chaos and its fuss, But in my own reflection, I find strength and courage, thus” (The Solitary Walk Of Trust by Richard Overton).
I strongly believe in duty, personal responsibility, and doing the right thing when it’s hard. Consequently, I cannot continue knowing about an injustice that was being ignored, without at least trying to do something about it. To remain silent in the face of injustice is cowardly:
Privilege comes with responsibility, and responsibility requires accountability. Integrity means doing the right thing, even if you end up being punished for it.
In the end, someone must come forward and act – to facilitate an end to “a culture of fear”. If nothing else, I intend to be a catalyst for action.
“They tried to bury me. They didn’t realize I was a seed.” - Sinead O’Connor.
Sincerely,
Mr. Daniel Heffernan - April 11, 2024
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As an educational exercise, if you think there aren’t ongoing systemic problems in our educational institutions, grab yourself a coffee or a cup of tea and do a simple 5-minute search like I did just prior to sending my message. In my vast work experience, I have never encountered a more unprofessional and toxic environment on so many levels, and believe me when I tell you that if you knew my work history, that statement alone says a lot:
“Richard Smith is an award-winning French teacher. Anonymous complaints ended his 23-year career” by Joanne Laucius, The Ottawa Citizen, April 14, 2024:
“LEVY: The TDSB’s culture of fear and silence” by Sue-Ann Levy, TNC.News, May 30, 2023:
“LEVY: The TDSB’s ‘culture of terror’ under Colleen Russell-Rawlins" by Sue-Ann Levy, TNC.News, Aug. 13, 2023:
“Education minister orders review into allegations of TDSB principal who died by suicide: Richard Bilkszto filed a lawsuit against TDSB related to a training session months before his death” by The Canadian Press, Jul 25, 2023:
“Former principal who sued TDSB over alleged bullying during anti-racism training dies by suicide” by Brendan Kennedy, Investigative Reporter, Toronto Star, July 21, 2023:
“Teacher alleges ‘toxic’ work environment” by Sue-Ann Levy, Toronto Sun, Mar. 9, 2015:
“Inside the nasty, bizarro, contemptible, gobsmackingly screwed-up soap opera that is the TDSB” by Philip Preville, Toronto Life, Feb. 19, 2015:
“TDSB review blames trustees for ‘culture of fear’” by James Armstrong, Global News, Jan. 15, 2015:
“Review blames 'interfering' trustees for creating 'culture of fear' at Toronto District School Board.” Author of the article: Special to National Post, Jan. 15, 2015:
“Is the TDSB too big to work? New report may discuss splitting dysfunctional Toronto school board.” Author of the article: Special to National Post, Jan. 14, 2015:
“Will the Province have to step in to solve TDSB standoff?” by Dave Trafford, Global News, Nov. 18, 2014:
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