Cultural sensitivity training is in the future for one Sooke School District teacher as part of discipline handed down for remarks made at Edward Milne secondary in Sooke.
B次元官网网址淭his is very out of character for all of our employees,B次元官网网址� said District superintendent Jim Cambridge.
When asked if the matter had been dealt with to the satisfaction of the District, he said, B次元官网网址渨e wish the issue had never occurred.B次元官网网址�
In mid-December of last year, Matthew Shaun Pell signed a consent resolution agreement with the British Columbia Commissioner for Teacher Regulations agreeing to a reprimand under the Teachers Act.
In 2014, when Pell was teaching a Grade 11 math class at Edward Milne community school in Sooke, he repeatedly referred to a student, whose family background is Middle Eastern and Muslim, as B次元官网网址淭aliban.B次元官网网址�
The consent resolution agreement states that he would also B次元官网网址渕ake comments such as B次元官网网址榙onB次元官网网址檛 make her angry otherwise sheB次元官网网址檒l bomb youB次元官网网址� or B次元官网网址榮heB次元官网网址檚 going to blow everything up.B次元官网网址橞次元官网网址�
Those comments reportedly made the student and her classmates feel very uncomfortable.
In May 2015 the District issued Pell a warning letter in respect to this conduct and in June the District made a report to the Commissioner regarding Pell. Cambridge said as soon it was brought to the DistrictB次元官网网址檚 attention, action was taken. B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 particularly intolerable in the public school setting.B次元官网网址�
The District has a zero tolerance policy towards racism in its schools, but Cambridge noted individuals are disciplined differently and factors such as repeat offences are considered. He could not disclose whether Pell, who now teaches at Royal Bay secondary, has had any previous complaints against him.
As outlined in the resolution agreement, Pell must successfully complete the course B次元官网网址淏uilding Cultural Intelligence in Your Workplace,B次元官网网址� through the Justice Institute of B.C. by June 30. If he fails to do so, his certificate of qualification may be suspended.
Sooke Teachers Association president Ian Johnson said in a statement that Pell has B次元官网网址渁dmitted his error and acknowledges that his behaviour was inappropriate.B次元官网网址� Johnson added that Pell has agreed to fulfill the Teacher Regulation BranchB次元官网网址檚 expectation that he enrol in a cultural sensitivity course.
B次元官网网址淭he Sooke TeachersB次元官网网址� Association expects members to treat all students with respect and dignity,B次元官网网址� Johnson stated. B次元官网网址淭here is no place for racism or discrimination of any kind in our inclusive schools.B次元官网网址�
katie@goldstreamgazette.com
