'This unprecedented action aims to restore a health and safe environment for students'
A school in Quebec has suspended 11 teachers all at once over allegations of creating a “toxic environment” at a school.
Isabelle Gélinas, director general of the Centre de services scolaire de Montréal (CSSDM), asked the management of Bedford School to immediately suspend the 11 teachers targeted by serious allegations in the ministerial investigation report.
“This unprecedented action aims to restore, as quickly as possible, a healthy and safe environment for Bedford students and the entire educational community,” the CSSDM said on its website.
That came after an investigation into allegations of a toxic climate at Montreal's Bedford Elementary School found “significant shortcomings, particularly with regard to the toxic climate within this school,” according to the Office of the Minister of Education.
A toxic work environment is a symptom of broader operational dynamics, according to one expert.
Findings of investigation into Bedford teachers
The investigation at Bedford School revealed a number of misconduct incidents involving students and staff at the school, said the minister’s office:
- physical and psychological violence against students and staff, including yelling and humiliation techniques
- bullying
- insubordination
- incivility.
Access to classes is refused or discouraged, which makes it impossible to carry out certain monitoring or observations, particularly with students who have special needs, it said.
"School exists for our students. Their interests and needs must come first at all times and in all schools in Quebec,” said Bernard Drainville, minister of education. “I will not compromise on that. It is clear that this is not the case at Bedford School and that is why we must act and take strong steps to change that."
Following the investigation, Drainville implemented several measures, including submitting to the minister an action plan – with the support of CSSDM and and Ministry of Education – to:
- restore a healthy and safe climate free from all forms of intimidation and violence
- ensure the competence of teachers, particularly through continuing training
- propose solutions to the problem of interference by teaching staff in school management and measures to ensure the proper functioning of school management and the school board in compliance with the roles and responsibilities assigned to them.
Investigation committees will also determine whether the teachers “committed serious misconduct or an act derogatory to the honour or dignity of the teaching profession in the exercise of their duties,” said the office of the minister. Following the investigation, the teachers’ authorization or certificate to teach could be maintained under conditions, suspended or revoked.
The minister also mandated the Ministry's teams to quickly conduct audits in three other CSSDM schools, to investigate “issues and problems similar to those reported at Bedford School.”
Earlier this year, Champlain Regional College put the campus director of one of its colleges on temporary paid leave as she faced allegations of psychological harassment and a motion of non-confidence from the teachers' union.
Are Muslim teachers being targeted?
The suspensions, meanwhile, raised questions from parents of the students.
“It’s shocking for everyone. And we don’t know exactly what happened, or for what reason they were suspended,” said Kamrun Nahar, whose daughter attends the Côte-des-Neiges school, in a Montreal Gazette report. “Eleven teachers all at once?”
Meanwhile, several Muslim parents with children at the school said they fear the suspensions will cast the Muslim community in Quebec in a negative light.
“If a teacher did something, they should pay for it,” said Houda, a 43-year-old who requested her last name not be published, according to the same Montreal Gazette report.
“But I never had any problems in 11 years,” she added, noting she has one child attending the school and two others who have graduated from it. “No intimidation, no yelling, none of that.”
Previously, Birju Dattani who was appointed head of the Canadian Human Rights Commission (CHRC) left his post even before taking over the role, following investigations into some of his actions prior to his appointment.
