'Not a pedophile': Two B.C. teachers suspended for crossing boundaries with students
Todd Erin Graham was teaching high school in a district in the B.C. Interior in the 2022-23 school year when the following happened:
He singled out a student — described in a consent resolution agreement with the B.C. Commissioner for Teacher Regulation as a 'diverse learner' — in front of classmates and used an unflattering term. Graham also made a comment to an Indigenous student that was 'demeaning' to the student specifically 'and to Indigenous peoples generally.'
In early 2024, the district issued a letter of discipline and ordered to take a course on reconciliation at a First Nations university.
Later that year, the district reported another incident from 2022 when Graham was teaching a fitness class. 'During the first class, Graham separated the girls from the boys for a meeting,' said the signed agreement.
'In that meeting, Graham told the girls that he was 'not a pedophile' but that he might have to 'grab them' to show them proper form or to spot them.'
He told them he wasn't attracted to them because he was 52 and they were 15. 'The students reported feeling uncomfortable following this meeting.'
He would 'periodically touch students to help them with their form or identify muscle groups they were working,' making some female students feel uncomfortable.
One student was lying on a bench to do a bench press when Graham touched her chest and said, 'Can you feel that?' Another student had her hips pushed by Graham while doing squats, and a third was complimented by Graham on her legs while doing another exercise.
In early 2023, Graham was issued another letter of discipline about his conduct and ordered him to take a course on boundaries.
The commissioner investigated and decided a one-day suspension and another course on professional boundaries was warranted, because Graham failed to create a positive learning environment or model appropriate behaviour, his conduct 'adversely impacted students' and made them uncomfortable, and his word choices and comments showed a lack of respect for First Nations.
In an agreement also posted online Tuesday, Hussan Ali Riasat was suspended two days for getting into complicated, overly personal and sometimes profane exchanges in 2021 with students he labelled as 'bullies.'
Also a high school teacher, Riasat intervened in a conflict among several Grade 10 students who weren't getting along. While trying to mediate, he shared details about his personal life, 'writing them overly personal and inappropriate messages' and leaving a lengthy inappropriate voice message with two students.
In another message sent on MS Teams, Riasat called one of the students 'insanely childish and rude' and accused both students of engaging in 'attention-seeking behaviour and guilt-tripping.' When Riasat contacted another student asking them to help with the conflict, he told that student one of the others had a 'bitchy attitude' and called both 'manipulative.'
At the end of the 2021 school year, Riasat made a report to the vice-principal that was highly critical of the students' behaviour and told at least one other teacher the students were bullies. When school resumed in fall, Riasat became frustrated at the continuing conflict among students and approached the president of a school club, telling the student one of the others in the club was a bully. That student was expelled from the club.
In October 2023, the district disciplined Riasat with a five-day suspension without pay and ordered to take a course on boundaries.
Then in May 2024, Riasat walked past a group of students and heard one make a comment about someone being bald. He turned and said, 'What the f— did you just say to me?' A Grade 9 student responded, 'Who the f— are you talking to?' to which Riasat responded, 'You.' He then said, 'F— you, bitch.'
Based on these and other incidents when Riasat made poor decisions in dealing with students, the commissioner ordered a further two-day suspension that was served late last month. Riasat must also complete another course on boundaries.
The commissioner did not name the school district where either Graham or Riasat worked to protect the students involved.
jruttle@postmedia.com
B.C. teacher suspended an extra day for sharing stories with students of a 'sexual nature'
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