The B.C. College of Teachers says it is looking into the case of a Vancouver teacher who taped a student's mouth shut because he was talking in math class.
The incident in a Grade 7 class at Laura Secord Elementary last year became public at a school trustee candidates' debate in Burnaby this week, when 13-year-old West Tomelden raised the question.
"I was just wondering what would be the appropriate disciplinary action for that?" he asked the candidates.
The boy's mother Jade is running as an independent candidate for Burnaby School Board trustee.
Tomelden left the meeting in tears after a teacher in the audience stood up to tell the boy his question was "inappropriate" and he should speak with his teacher and his principal.
He had, in fact, reported the matter to the principal. The Vancouver School Board says the principal immediately spoke with the teacher.
"The teacher then spoke with the class to discuss why the behaviour wasn't appropriate," board spokesman Kurt Heinrich told CTV News.
The teacher was also given a letter of expectation and the matter was discussed with the student involved and his parents. The teacher was not suspended, however, and the incident was not reported to the B.C. College of Teachers.
"If the incident is dealt with at a school level, there is no reporting to the teachers' college," Heinrich said.
But the college says there should have been.
"It sounds to me like there's a breach of the standards that is serious. It sounds to me as though it would be worthy of review by the college," registrar Kit Krieger said.
"Now that I know about it, we'll look into this -- without a doubt."
With a report from CTV British Columbia's Michele Brunoro
