The president of the Lambton Kent Elementary Teachers Federation of Ontario said it was an uneasy first day of school.
Laurel Liddicoat-Newton said the union's dispute with the Doug Ford government over the health and physical education curriculum is a "dark shadow" looming over teachers as the new school year begins.
"We're seeking an injunction against the government to stop this attack against kids and professional educators in Ontario," said Liddicoat-Newton. "Students need and deserve modern-day information and answers to questions, it's all about safety and inclusion and preparing students for the world of 2018, not the world of 1998."
The ETFO, that represents 83,000 public elementary school teachers in the province, said it believes the repeal of the 2015 Health and Physical Education Curriculum is in direct conflict with its members “professional obligations that are enshrined within the Education Act and the Standards of Practice of the Ontario College of Teachers.”
The application for judicial review also seeks to quash what the union called a "snitch line" that allows parents to anonymously report teachers who fail to return to the 1998 curriculum as ordered.
Liddicoat-Newton said they're encouraging members to use professional judgement to make sure they're creating a safe and healthy environment for students.
"This kind of snitch line and threats against our teachers is negative and it's impacting the relationships that our teachers have with parents," said Liddicoat-Newton. "ETFO encourages members to regularly communicate with parents as they have always done, and this draconian kind of snitch line, which is anonymous, is just a waste of time."
The ETFO is also seeking intervenor status in a case currently before the Ontario Human Rights Tribunal filed in August by parents and students regarding the changes to the health curriculum.
-With files from Dave Dentinger