Grade 1 teacher in Quebec suspended after recording of her shouting at students released
CBC
An elementary school teacher in Sainte-Marthe-sur-le-Lac west of Montreal has been suspended after an audio recording exposing her violent comments and aggressive behaviour toward students was made public.
A parent allegedly hid a device in their child's backpack to record the Grade 1 teacher's comments. The story was first reported by Quebecor Media.
"It's horrible," said Education Minister Bernard Drainville about the Des Grands-Vents elementary school teacher's conduct. "It is very clearly inappropriate behaviour that calls into question the psychological safety of children."
The minister explained that the school service centre, Centre de services scolaire des Mille-Îles (CSSS Mille-Îles), had launched its own investigation into the events, and there is an ongoing police investigation.
At a media briefing, Premier François Legault said he was happy that the teacher was suspended, "but now we have to get to the bottom of the story."
"It is completely unacceptable for children to be bullied like this," he said.
Drainville added that psychologists and psychoeducators have been made available to the children and their parents since Monday.
"It's not just the kids in the class in question. School children will be able to receive help," he said.
The Deux-Montagnes Police Department confirmed that two parents of students had filed two complaints Monday, for assault and intimidation. An investigator is expected to meet the children this week.
A school board meeting was planned for Tuesday evening at the Des Grands-Vents school, in the presence of parents and staff members. It was scheduled before the recording was made public.
"I said to myself, 'It can't be, it's impossible'... For the lady to shout loudly like that, it's impossible that no one heard this or talk about it to senior management," said the parent of a child attending the school group where the suspended person taught.
"I'm a little shocked. It's as though we wanted to hide it, but our children lived in this climate," the parent added.
Nathalie Joannette, director general of the CSSS Mille-Îles school service centre said she listened to the recording several times and "dissected it."
"Of course, no one is proud of the situation," she said. "I'm shocked. I'm saddened for the students."
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