Dear Editor:
I am responding to the article recently published regarding the B.C. Commissioner for Teacher Regulation’s disciplinary report issued against Bill Reid, who remains a principal in the North Vancouver School District.
Despite multiple complaints from other staff, the principal allowed a child to remain in a harmful situation with an education assistant, which involved the EA repeatedly touching the boy inappropriately and kissing him on the lips. During these two months, the principal did not report the allegations, conduct an investigation, or remove the EA from working with the child.
The conduct of the principal does not strike me as a small “mistake” or a minor lapse in judgment. It seems apparent that this is a failure of the most primary moral and legal obligation of an educator and principal — to protect children from harm at school. That the child in this case was autistic and non-verbal and thus unable to tell anyone what was happening adds another level of gravity.
The school district’s disciplinary response, a letter in the principal’s file and a one-week suspension during spring break, seems far too lenient given the highly serious nature of his transgressions. I believe it sends a very poor message to parents, to students, and to the school district’s own staff regarding the manner in which staff misconduct causing harm to children is dealt with. It also causes me concern for the safety and welfare of all children in public school in North Vancouver.
Karen Nordquist
North Vancouver
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