A Winnipeg School Division teacher who placed a photo of his same-sex marriage partner on his classroom desk has educators scrambling to decide how much teachers can tell kids about their personal lives.
The family of a Grade 7 student is trying to transfer to another school because the boy's teacher has placed a photo of his partner on his desk, and is answering students' questions about his personal life, said a source within the division.
"The administration has already gone in to look at the situation" and talk to the school's principal, said the source, who asked not to be identified.
The source said that the classroom teacher is not aware yet that anything is happening, and would not name the school, the family, or the teacher.
The administration is reportedly carefully avoiding bringing sexual orientation into the situation, but is looking at how much of the teacher's personal life the teacher is discussing with students, and how frequently.
However, said the source, the family involved has cited sexual orientation as an issue, in raising complaints about the teacher which could eventually reach the school board.
The family says age 12 is too young for such classroom discussions, said the source: "The lady says, 'I don't think this is right.' The issue here is, the kid is confused. The kid is coming home and talking about sexual orientation."
School board chairwoman Kristine Barr and union leaders say nothing's been brought to them so far. And they say they've never heard of complaints anywhere about teachers displaying photos of same-sex partners.
"We do have strong human-rights policies" that reflect and respect the wide diversity in the division, said Barr, who led the campaign nine years ago to promote anti-homophobia education in the division.
The division and teachers' union say that there are no policies or guidelines on what personal items a teacher can place on his or her desk, such as photos of spouses and children, or how much teachers can or should talk about their personal lives.
The Manitoba Teachers' Society says it is not aware of any policies across the province.
Winnipeg Teachers Association president Dave Najduch said teachers individually decide how much they want to tell their students, or how little. Najduch said he'll be talking to the administration to find out what's happening to the unidentified Grade 7 teacher.
"Some teachers share a lot of personal information with students, and they choose to. Some will share nothing, and they decline to comment," Najduch said.
Some teachers see discussing their families as part of developing a bond with their students, he said.
Curious students might ask their teachers if they're married, if they have children, or where they live.
Najduch said he's displayed photos of his wife and kids in his classrooms.
"I've never been directed one way or the other," he said. "It's based on personal preference."
nick.martin@freepress.mb.ca
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