A pair of Prince Rupert parents are alleging homophobic behaviour and assault after a teacher removed nail polish from their eight-year-old son without authorization or forewarning.

In an interview with The Northern View, Keri Hyzims said her Grade 2 son, Shemar Williams, has been too frightened to attend Conrad Elementary School for more than a week and is now uncomfortable returning to class after being called to Catharine HagueB次元官网网址檚 desk, not once, but twice, to have his nail polish removed.

The incident has left his mother feeling inadequate and like she has done something wrong as a parent by allowing him to have his nails done. She said she canB次元官网网址檛 stop crying when she thinks of the whole situation and the hurt it has caused.

On April 21, Hyzims took her son and her daughter to the salon for some pampering as a late birthday gift. The young boy, who turned eight in April, had never had a manicure or pedicure before and was in his element to try it out, she said.

He was so happy she posted photos on social media of him in the massage chair at the salon with a big smile on his face.

However, Hyzims claims on April 24, her son returned home after school and was upset. Shemar told her he was called to the teacherB次元官网网址檚 desk during class time, told the nail polish was B次元官网网址渦glyB次元官网网址� and B次元官网网址渋tB次元官网网址檚 not rightB次元官网网址� and the teacher removed the polish from a B次元官网网址渃ouple of nails.B次元官网网址�

Hyzims said she tried to reassure her son what the teacher did was not right and she had no right to touch his body or say such things.

The next day, during quiet reading time, the mom said the boy was called to the teacherB次元官网网址檚 desk again, where she used nail polish remover to take off the rest of the polish on his nails, saying B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 not right. ItB次元官网网址檚 not good,B次元官网网址� to the boy.

B次元官网网址淚 have never seen my son so heartbroken before,B次元官网网址� Hyzims said.

Noel Williams, the boyB次元官网网址檚 stepfather, approached the teacher outside of school on April 27 B次元官网网址� a confrontation recorded by Williams and circulated on social media.

The video shows Williams introducing the teacher by name, saying, B次元官网网址淭his is the teacher that took his nails off while saying they were ugly B次元官网网址� B次元官网网址�

Hague is seen smiling at the camera before replying that B次元官网网址渋t was a misunderstanding.B次元官网网址�

Williams requests the return of the money spent on the mani-pedi, to which the teacher refuses by saying B次元官网网址渘o, sir.B次元官网网址�

Hyzims said she had a meeting with the Conrad principal, Jean Marogna, on May 2 regarding the issue B次元官网网址� and is too upset to deal directly with the teacher.

B次元官网网址淚t happened in front of the whole class. Everybody saw what she was doing to him B次元官网网址� ItB次元官网网址檚 upsetting. It hurt him and itB次元官网网址檚 making him feel like he cannot do what he wants with his body. ItB次元官网网址檚 discouraging him.B次元官网网址�

In the meeting with the school head, Hyzims said her son shared that he doesnB次元官网网址檛 feel safe returning to school.

Hyzims said she is raising her children to be open-minded, accept everyone and support the LGBTQIA community of which she is a member and an ally. She said she wants them to grow up being their true selves and to be comfortable with who they are.

She believes the incident is sending the wrong message to the other students by confusing them and scaring them.

B次元官网网址淭he message [Mrs. Hague] has given to anyone, if sheB次元官网网址檚 doing this to my son B次元官网网址� I believe sheB次元官网网址檚 telling people that they canB次元官网网址檛 be who they want to be, who they truly want to be. SheB次元官网网址檚 discouraging them from expressing who they really are and what they really want to be in life.B次元官网网址�

In an emailed statement to The Northern View, School District 52 director of education, Sandy Pond, said the allegations are being taken seriously B次元官网网址渁nd the incident has been under investigation since we were made aware.B次元官网网址�

A return-to-school plan has not been provided to the studentB次元官网网址檚 parents, the mother said. However, the possibility of a different teacher was mentioned in the meeting with the school. She said she understands the school will speak to the teacher, then follow up with her again.

The mom hopes the teacher will apologize to her son and offer to pay for his next mani-pedi.

B次元官网网址淎fter the meeting, Shemar said he misses his friends and wants to try to go back to school, but he is still scared,B次元官网网址� Hyzims said.

The Northern View reached out to Hague by phone and left a voicemail, but has not received a response.