B.C. teacher disciplined for dragging student by hoodie: new agency

VICTORIA – The new agency that disciplines B.C. teachers has issued its first rulings, which include action against one teacher who surfed porn on a school computer and another who dragged a student by a hoodie and cut off his breathing for about three seconds.

The Teacher Regulation Branch was set up by the provincial government to replace the B.C. College of Teachers, which was criticized as being overly influenced by the B.C. Teachers Federation.

In one of its first rulings, the new agency handed Dale Andre Joseph Mailhiot a two-month suspension of his teaching certificate for using his school computer to check graphic adult websites.

Lynna Darlene Schaldemose was suspended for 14 days after she dragged an 11-year-old student by his hoodie during an assembly, when the zipper jammed into the boy’s throat and cut off his breathing.

Dennis Craig Smith, who was an elementary school principal, lost his teaching certificate after he admitted taking $29,000 from a principals’ and vice principals’ association, of which he was the treasurer.

Two other teachers were disciplined for hitting students.