Teacher censured for physical restraint of student...

The Teachers Disciplinary Tribunal censured a teacher for physically restraining a student with learning difficulties.

The teacher was new to the school and was assigned to a classroom including several children with behavioural and learning difficulties.

On the day prior to the incident the teacher met with the school principal to discuss one child in particular who was known for having outbursts, behaving inappropriately, and storming out of classrooms. The principal informed the teacher to fetch her if the teacher struggled with the child.

On the day of the incident the child was acting inappropriately. He left the classroom when asked by the teacher but came back soon after and started throwing pens and books around the room.

The teacher put both of his hands on the child’s shoulders and dragged him through tables and out of the classroom while yelling at the child. The child started crying and his leg became bruised.

The Tribunal considered that the teacher’s behaviour amounted to serious misconduct. The teacher was aware of the behavioural difficulties of the children in the class and had other options available to him during the incident other than physically restraining the child.

The teacher could have fetched the principal or asked a student or teacher aide to do so, or he could have removed the children from the classroom while the child was throwing items around.

The Tribunal censured the teacher and ordered for him to attend a professional development course focusing on behaviour management. The teacher is also required to teach under supervision for two years.

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