Teacher suspended after doing 'back-breaker' move on students in North Vancouver
An elementary school teacher who repeatedly used a "back-breaker" move on students in North Vancouver has been suspended and ordered to take a course on fostering a positive learning environment.
Sylvain Joseph-Leo Desbiens would place his knee on a student's back while pulling their arms behind them, which was perceived by some children as being "punitive in nature," according to a consent agreement published Tuesday by B.C.'s commissioner for teacher regulation.
Desbiens wouldn't use his full strength while performing the “back-breaker,” but it still appeared to cause the students discomfort.
"More than one student said that this caused pain," the agreement reads.
"On one occasion, a group of students nominated a classmate to 'sacrifice' themselves for punishment by receiving the 'back-breaker,' as the other students did not want to have the 'back-breaker' performed on them."
The incidents took place during the 2018-19 school year, while Desbiens was teaching students in grades 4 and 5. He did not perform the "back-breaker" move on girls.
The teacher would also sometimes “pinch a student's (shoulder muscle) to the point where it hurt," and "pretend to strike students by forcefully slapping one of his hands into his open palm above their heads," according to the consent agreement.
"On one occasion, he accidentally made contact with a student's head while doing this," it reads.
"At least one student reported being afraid of Desbiens."
The teacher's behaviour prompted several complaints from parents, which led to an investigation by the North Vancouver School District that resulted in a three-day suspension without pay in 2019.
After reviewing the matter, the commissioner for teacher regulation ordered that Desbien be suspended another five days, and complete the course Creating a Positive Learning Environment through the Justice Institute of British Columbia.
When determining the punishment, the commissioner considered that Desbiens' behaviour "jeopardized the physical and emotional safety of the students in his class."
The teacher was also previously reminded to be respectful around students after an incident in 2011, when he was working in Vancouver and used masking tape to tape a student's mouth shut.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
NEW After hearing thousands of last words, this hospital chaplain has advice for the living
Hospital chaplain J.S. Park opens up about death, grief and hearing thousands of last words, and shares his advice for the living.
BREAKING Police cordon off Iran consulate in Paris where man threatens to blow himself up: French media
French police cordoned off the Iranian consulate in Paris on Friday, where a man was threatening to blow himself up, Europe 1 radio and BFM TV.
Some Canadian families will receive up to $620 per child today
More money will land in the pockets of some Canadian families on Friday for the latest Canada Child Benefit installment.
BREAKING Iran fires at apparent Israeli attack drones near Isfahan air base and nuclear site
An apparent Israeli drone attack on Iran saw troops fire air defences at a major air base and a nuclear site early Friday morning near the central city of Isfahan, an assault coming in retaliation for Tehran's unprecedented drone-and-missile assault on the country.
American millionaire Jonathan Lehrer denied bail after being charged with killing Canadian couple
American millionaire Jonathan Lehrer, one of two men charged in the killings of a Canadian couple in Dominica, has been denied bail.
Ottawa to force banks to call carbon rebate a carbon rebate in direct deposits
Canadian banks that refuse to identify the carbon rebate by name when doing direct deposits are forcing the government to change the law to make them do it, says Environment Minister Steven Guilbeault.
Ontario woman loses $15,000 to fake Walmart job scam
A woman who recently moved to Canada from India was searching for a job when she got caught in an online job scam and lost $15,000.
After COVID, WHO defines disease spread 'through air'
The World Health Organization and around 500 experts have agreed for the first time on what it means for a disease to spread through the air, in a bid to avoid the confusion early in the COVID-19 pandemic that some scientists have said cost lives.
Prince Harry formally confirms he is now a U.S. resident
Prince Harry, the son of King Charles III and fifth in line to the British throne, has formally confirmed he is now a U.S. resident.