Investigation Committee Case Study

What Would You Do?

The College's Investigation Committee considers all complaints made to the College about its members and reviews all information resulting from investigations. The committee can dismiss a complaint or refer the matter, in whole or in part, to the Discipline or Fitness to Practise committees for a hearing.

The Investigation Committee may also caution or admonish the member in writing or in person, or provide written reminders or advice, or ratify a Memorandum of Agreement reached through the complaint resolution process.

By law, cases under investigation are confidential. For the education of members, the following account, based on facts from real cases, raises important questions about teacher conduct, such as what is appropriate and what is not. Details have been altered to respect confidentiality.

The College received a complaint from a school board regarding Anthony, an elementary school teacher. It was alleged that he made inappropriate comments to students and failed to protect a student with severe allergies, despite having been trained and receiving several reminders.

More specifically, the allegations included:

• yelling at students and calling them "complete terrors";
• telling students that today's generation should "die" because they were "bad listeners" and "complete idiots"; and
• giving dairy products to a student with a known severe dairy allergy.

If you were a member of the Investigation Committee panel, what would you have issued to Anthony?

• an admonishment in person
  (most severe)
• an admonishment in writing
• a written caution
• written advice
• a written reminder (least severe)

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The Outcome

The panel was very concerned by Anthony's actions and decided to admonish the member in writing.

It noted that although Anthony indicated he was having difficulties managing the students, he also admitted to behaving inappropriately and acting unprofessionally.

The panel also noted that although there was some dispute as to what Anthony said to the class, the panel was of the belief that a teacher must be mindful when making such comments to ensure they are not misinterpreted.

The panel said that Anthony acknowledged he knew about the student's allergy, and that his actions were not in accordance with neither the school's nor the school board's policy on allergies.