A B.C. teacher who allegedly hit students or told them to ‘shut up’ has been reprimanded for not treating students with “dignity and respect.”
A decision from the B.C. Commissioner for Teacher Regulation said Elaine Joy Fraser received her teacher certification in September 1989.
It was in the 2021-22 school year that a parent complained about Fraser’s conduct in an elementary school class.
The decision said Fraser made a demeaning comment to a student in front of that student's classmates and made a point of rewarding the student’s classmates to the exclusion of the student in response to the child’s conduct.
“Student A reported feeling hurt by this,” the decision said.
As a result, the district issued Fraser a letter of expectation March 11, 2022 in which she was reminded of expectations that she carry out her duties in a manner that fostered “the emotional safety of her students and demonstrates that diversity in her classroom is valued.”
She agreed the actions were professional misconduct.
She was also advised to create a plan to support her teaching and to review the district’s employee standards of conduct and the professional standards for B.C. educators.
The decision said theses were not the first concerns about Fraser.
On Nov. 3, 2009, she was issued a written reprimand following allegations that she had hit a student with a textbook.
On June 18, 2010, the district issued Fraser another written reprimand following allegations that she had nudged a student on the back of his leg with her foot to get the student’s attention, and that she had extended her leg causing the student to run into it.
“It was also alleged that Fraser would yell at students and tell them to ‘shut up,’” the decision said. “The district directed Fraser to refrain from having any inappropriate physical contact with students and telling students to ‘shut up.’”
The decision said that, in determining a disciplinary action, the commissioner had to consider Fraser’s failing to create a positive learning environment for students when she did not treat Student A with dignity and respect; failing to model appropriate behaviour expected of an educator; and the fact Student A was particularly vulnerable due to a unique learning profile.
Fraser agreed to a reprimand under the Teachers Act and also to a requirement that she complete the course Creating a Positive Learning Environment through the Justice Institute of BC by March 31, 2024.
