The College found the former Peel District School Board teacher guilty of professional misconduct in a decision released today and revoked his teaching licence. The ruling states that, "the off-duty conduct of the member is relevant because of the impact it had, and was likely to have, on the confidence of the public ... in the system as a whole if he was permitted to continue as a teacher."
While the quality of Fromm's teaching was never an issue in the 19 years he taught English at Applewood Heights Secondary School or the additional four years he taught at the Britannia Adult Education Centre after the board moved him away from younger students, his activities supporting racist organizations and causes outside the classroom are troubling, the College committee said.
Fromm founded such organizations as Citizens For Foreign Aid Review (C-FAR) and the Canadian Association for Free Expression where he indicated that "multiculturalism is doing damage to our society."
He made appearances at events organized by the Heritage Front, shared the stage with David Duke of the Ku Klux Klan and attended a celebration of Adolph Hitler's birthday.
Citizens do have the right of free speech and can say what they wish within the law, states the decision.
"But that doesn’t mean necessarily, that he can also be a teacher when he says those things," the ruling states. "When these comments are presented at an event attended by racists and white supremacists and you make clear that you are a common cause with those people, then you are sending a message that is very different."
Media coverage of Fromm and his views had a negative effect on the students, the school and the board where he worked, the committee ruled.
During the hearing, which was held over 12 days in 2005 and April and May of this year, the former mayoralty candidate and candidate for Mississauga East MP argued that the case would determine whether teachers have a right to engage in political activity on their own time.
He dismissed comparisons of his case to that of Malcolm Ross, the teacher who expressed his racist views in the classroom and whose dismissal was upheld by Canada's Supreme Court.
Fromm did not testify in his own defence at the hearing but presented a 27-minute videotaped testimonial from mature students in his classes at the Britannia Adult Education Centre, indicating he was a good teacher.
"The member's pattern of conduct, which persisted over many years, undermined confidence in the school community and makes the member unsuitable for membership in the profession," stated the ruling. The committee noted that Fromm has shown no remorse.
The ruling does not prevent Fromm from teaching in a private school.
jstewart@mississauga.net
