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B.C. teacher disciplined for telling Grade 3 kids he would 㽶Ƶֱrip out㽶Ƶֱ their vocal cords

Teacher also said non-verbal children are 㽶Ƶֱdumb㽶Ƶֱ

A B.C. school teacher has been reprimanded after multiple complaints were filed against him, including one in which Grade 3 students on a school bus were told he would 㽶Ƶֱrip out㽶Ƶֱ their vocal cords if they raised their voices.

Edward Gerrit Timmermans, who was teaching in School District 63 in Saanich on Vancouver Island, agreed to a statement of facts through B.C.㽶Ƶֱs commissioner for teacher regulation that included an admission of professional misconduct. The commissioner found that Timmermans 㽶Ƶֱfailed to treat students equitably with acceptance, dignity and respect and failed to show adequate care for students㽶Ƶֱ mental and emotional wellbeing; and Timmermans failed to model appropriate behaviour expected of an educator.㽶Ƶֱ

Multiple infractions were detailed in the disciplinary report, including Timmermans㽶Ƶֱ behaviour on a bus with a Grade 3 class during a field trip.

㽶ƵֱUsing the microphone on the bus, he welcomed the students, made a few jokes and then added: 㽶ƵֱIf you need to stand up to shout across the bus you need to understand that I will rip out your vocal cords and then throw them out the window,㽶Ƶֱ the agreement states.

In another, a student referred to themselves as 㽶Ƶֱdumb㽶Ƶֱ and Timmermans responded that the student 㽶Ƶֱwas not dumb as 㽶Ƶֱdumb means you are unable to speak and clearly you are speaking㽶Ƶֱ,㽶Ƶֱ the report said. 㽶ƵֱIn retelling the story to colleagues as a meeting, Timmermans was remind that some students are non-verbal. Timmermans responded by saying: 㽶ƵֱYeah, and they are dumb.㽶Ƶֱ㽶Ƶֱ

On April 28, 2001, Timmermans addressed a Grade 7 Indigenous student about the clothes they were wearing by saying, 㽶ƵֱPerhaps (Student A) is laughing at you because of what you㽶Ƶֱre wearing,㽶Ƶֱ the report said. 㽶ƵֱHe also said: 㽶ƵֱYou have your bra hanging out and people are going to look at you.㽶Ƶֱ㽶Ƶֱ

Timmermans must complete a course through the Justice Institute of B.C. or face a suspension of his teaching certificate.

Timmermans was suspended by SD63 for one month without pay but has not served it. However, he ended up resigning from the school district effective June 30, 2022.

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Chris Campbell

About the Author: Chris Campbell

I joined the Victoria News hub as an editor in 2023, bringing with me over 30 years of experience from community newspapers in Metro Vancouver and the Fraser Valley
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