Image Credit: ADOBE STOCK

A B.C. teacher who grabbed a student's arms and pulled their phone out of their hand has been suspended for two days.

According to a March 6 B.C. Commissioner for Teacher Regulation decision, Deborah Laurie Croft was teaching at an unnamed independent school in 2019 and 2020 when two separate incidents took place.

The decision says that in one instance Croft wanted a Grade 11 student to leave an empty classroom so she could lock the door.

However, the student refused to leave.

"Croft became frustrated, shut the classroom blinds, and locked the door from the inside so that other students could not enter. Croft then pulled at (the) student's arm and grabbed (the) student's phone from (the) student's hands, in an attempt to force them to leave the room," the decision reads.

Several months later Croft was involved in another altercation with a Grade 10 student.

A student in her class was being disruptive and at least once slammed her book shut.

"Croft responded by asking (the) student to leave the classroom. As (the) student was leaving, Croft took (the) student's book and hit (the) the student on the rear end with it," the decision reads. "(The) student was visibly upset and reported feeling humiliated afterwards."

The decision says both students involved are Indigenous.

"Croft failed to treat students with dignity and respect," the decision reads. "Croft acted in a manner inconsistent with an educator's responsibility to contribute to truth, reconciliation and healing."

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Several months later Croft was fired from the school.

Croft signed an agreement with the teachers' regulator admitting to her conduct.

The decision doesn't say whether Croft is currently teaching in B.C. but the regulator suspended her licence for two days.

Croft also has to complete a Systemic Racism in Canada course.

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The location of the school is not included in the decision.

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