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A BC teacher who swore at a student before giving them the middle finger has been suspended for two days.

The incident took place at an unnamed Surrey high school in May 2024, and the teacher involved, Hussan Ali Riasat, resigned the following month.

According to a July 8 BC Commissioner for Teacher Regulation, the regulator took disciplinary action against Riasat following several incidents that took place at the school over a few years.

The decision says Riasat showed a "repeated lack of understanding of appropriate professional boundaries."

In one instance, Riasat had told students another student had self-harmed, and he was upset because while the student had asked for him, the school counsellor had left him out.

In another instance, Riasat had tried to resolve a situation between a group of Grade 10 students.

"When attempting to mediate issues between this friend group in May and June 2021, Riasat failed to maintain appropriate boundaries between himself and the students, which included sharing details about his personal life with them, writing them overly familiar and inappropriate messages, and leaving an inappropriate voice message for (two) students," the decision reads.

The decision lists several voicemails and messages the English teacher had left for various students.

"Now both of those things you are doing right there, accusing me of picking favourites and then telling me I am not validating your feelings, is a guilt trip. That's basically what is happening right now. And the only reason why you are saying that is because I am not actively participating in hating on (a student) or her behaviour because I am being impartial because I am not picking sides," one voicemail said.

"I don't need to talk to you guys about this anymore. I shouldn't have even been approached in the first place and I shouldn't be doing this right now. But I would say in the future don't come to me with anything... talk to your counsellor... talk to other people... I told you my mental state and the things that I deal with but that was completely disregarded and maybe it's fine and maybe it should be because I am a teacher and you know what I deal with should be different anyways and my feelings don't need to be as... you know as well considered as other people's because I'm an adult," he said in another voicemail.

The decision says he messaged another student, saying their behaviour was "insanely childish and rude" and that he would only "help people who want to be helped."

He accused the student of "attention-seeking behaviour and guilt-tripping."

The decision gives more details about Riasat's involvement with the group of students as he tried to resolve their issues.

He told a student another student had a "bitchy attitude" and called others manipulative.

He wrote a report about his efforts trying to resolve the conflict and gave it to the vice-principal and principal.

"This report was highly critical of the actions of a number of the students... and concluded that these students were bullying (another) student," the decision reads.

The principal met with the bullied student's parents, and as the summer break was about to start, it was decided the issue with the friend group would be addressed in the new school year.

However, come September, Riasat wasn't happy with the way the school administration was dealing with the bullying.

"I gave a report of what transpired with the (students), my experience with it, and have been advocating for (the bullied student) since this began because I am her trusted teacher. However, I feel disrespected," he wrote to his bosses.

The decision says school administration had met with the students involved.

Frustrated by what happened, Riasat then tipped off a student who was the head of a school club that another student was a bully. The alleged bully was kicked out of the club.

He further let his frustrations vent by messaging a student he'd heard was saying negative things about him.

"Please go to counselling and get yourself transferred out of my class at your earliest convenience," the message read.

The school district later suspended him for five days.

It appears he had a trouble-free few years, although he did get written up for flicking the fabric portion of a lanyard at two students.

Then, in May 2024, he swore at the student.

The decision says he was walking down the hall when he heard a student say something about being bald.

He turned around and said, "What the fuck did you just say to me?"

The student replied, "Who the fuck are you talking to?"

"Fuck you, bitch," Riasat replied before giving her the middle finger.

The regulator also took issue that he'd let a student sit an exam in Starbucks.

Riasat resigned a week later.

The regulator suspended his teaching licence for two days and ordered him to complete the Reinforcing Respectful Professional Boundaries course.

"Riasat repeatedly failed to role model appropriate behaviour and did not treat students with acceptance, dignity and respect," the regulator said.

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