Two B.C. Teachers Reprimanded for Racially Insensitive Conduct

Two teachers in British Columbia have received reprimands from the B.C. Commissioner for Teacher Regulation due to racially insensitive interactions with students that caused discomfort and embarrassment.

Teacher William Donald Harvey's Misconduct

William Donald Harvey, who taught at a Burnaby high school from 2021 to 2023, engaged in several inappropriate exchanges. These included:

• Teaching students the French word "pétasse," which translates to "slut," during a vocabulary exercise.
• Segmenting his Grade 11 class by gender while disregarding a nonbinary student’s preferred pronouns.
• Discussing sensitive topics related to students’ backgrounds, such as making inappropriate remarks to a student of Japanese descent.
• Criticizing students' grades publicly, referring to some as "slackers."
• Using derogatory language related to Pakistani culture, which left a student feeling embarrassed and upset.

Following a formal investigation, Harvey admitted to his misconduct and will undergo additional training in classroom management and anti-racism strategies.

Another Teacher's Inappropriate Interactions

A second teacher, whose identity remains confidential, faced reprimands for culturally insensitive comments directed at Indigenous students and inappropriate behavior in the classroom. The violations included:

• Sending a disrespectful email to Indigenous siblings, suggesting they could go to another school if dissatisfied.
• Exhibiting a loss of temper in front of students when instructing staff on school dress code compliance.

This teacher was also issued a letter of discipline and served a one-day suspension without pay. They are required to take a course on diversity and trauma.

Both educators have acknowledged their misconduct and are now focused on implementing better practices to foster a positive learning environment.