B.C. teacher who touched students’ heads, hair and shoulders gets reprimanded

A B.C. science teacher who touched several students' heads and shoulders, and also removed another student's glasses, has had his licence suspended for one day.

The teacher also admitted to telling one student they smelt good and making a joke in front of the class that one student was dating another student.

According to a Feb. 1, B.C. Commissioner for Teacher Regulation decision, Veeran Ramdin, had been teaching in B.C. for a decade before the incidents occurred.

The decision says Ramdin was teaching at an unnamed independent school in September 2019 when three Grade 11 students reported to the vice-principal that he'd touched their hair, heads and shoulders as well as removed a classmate's glasses without permission.

"The students reported feeling uncomfortable as a result," the decision reads.

Following the incident one of the students transferred to another chemistry class.

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In another incident the same month, Ramdin commented to his Grade 11 chemistry class that one student looked as though they belonged in Grade 5. He then joked about a student dating another student in front of the class.

The school principal spoke to Ramdin and said he'd made some students feel uncomfortable because he was in their personal space.

Ramdin assured the principal that this would not happen again.

However, weeks later Ramdin walked past a student and said, ''what's that smell?" He then leaned in to smell the student's neck and said, "you smell good".

The student reported feeling very uncomfortable, says the decision.

Ramdin resigned from the school weeks later.

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The decision says Ramdin had previously been employed at another independent school between 2010 and 2019 and at one point a student had complained that Ramdin had touched their head.

"Ramdin's conduct showed a lack of understanding of appropriate professional boundaries in both his physical actions and verbal comments," the decision reads. "Ramdin's conduct created a negative learning environment for his students."

Ramdin signed a consent resolution agreement admitting to committing professional misconduct.

It's not clear whether Ramdin is currently teaching at another B.C. school, but he will have his teaching licence suspended for one day.

He will also have to complete a Reinforcing Respectful Professional Boundaries course.

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