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A B.C. teacher who has been in the classroom for 37 years has resigned and been reprimanded for making comments to students that would have been commonplace when he started his teaching career.

In one instance, he told a Grade 7 student wearing a bikini that she was dressed for the beach and not for school, and on another occasion, after a pupil referred to themselves as dumb, he replied they couldn't be as dumb meant unable to talk.

According to a March 7 B.C. Commissioner for Teacher regulation decision, Edward Gerrit Timmermans began his teaching career in 1986 and was working for the Saanich school district.

In May 2021, the school district reported Timmermans to the teachers' regulator.

Weeks earlier Timmermans had told a Grade 7 student her clothing was inappropriate for the classroom.

"Perhaps (a student) is laughing at you because of what you’re wearing," he told the inappropriately dressed student. "You have your bra hanging out and people are going to look at you."

He told the student she was dressed in a bikini for the beach and that a bra is not meant to be worn at school.

He then added "(last week) you were wearing booty shorts so short your bum was showing and I had to tum my eyes away,'" the decision reads.

During the exchange, Timmermans had pointed at his grey hair and referred to himself as an "elder" to the student who was Indigenous.

READ MORE: B.C. teacher who got physical with vulnerable student suspended

While the student's attire was not in accordance with school policy, Timmermans was issued a disciplinary letter of warning for his comments.

"Teachers were told to be sensitive when bringing up the issue of appropriate attire with individual students," the decision reads. "Timmermans’ exchange with (the student) was not consistent with the School’s expectation on how to manage such discussions."

Along with the warning letter he was mandated to complete a Building Compassionate Classrooms course along with Cultural Competency Training with the District's Indigenous Education Team.

"He was advised to show consistent support for students by using language and remarks that support their individual growth and self-esteem. He was told to refrain from language or conversation that could be interpreted as demeaning, and he was to seek support and guidance when unsure how best to respond to concerns," the decision reads.

However, Timmermans troubles weren't over.

Later that year while on a field trip with Grade 3 students, he made more comments that got him into hot water.

"Using the microphone on the bus, he welcomed the students, made a few jokes and then added, 'If 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,'" the decision says.

During the same semester, he made comments to a student's mother when discussing her child who has special needs.

The mother was concerned about her child becoming physical.

"Timmermans responded by saying words to the effect of, 'If (your child) takes a swing at me, I’ll block it and (your child) may get hurt,'" the decision says. He then gestured with his arm.

Timmermans then told the mother about an interaction he'd had with her child.

One day the special needs student had his head on the desk with his hoodie up and Timmermans told them to leave.

He then said, "you can make a decision to leave, or I will remove you."

"Timmermans did not force (the student) out of the classroom, his insistence that (the) student do as directed was driven by Timmermans’ frustration and need for control," the decision reads. "The appropriate manner to address (the) student in these situations is to leave (the) student alone so that (the) student can self-regulate."

After he relayed the story to the child's mother she was concerned and said her child didn't respond well to threats.

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He then had another interaction with the same student.

"In class one day, (the) student referred to themselves as 'dumb.' Timmermans’ response was to say that (the) student was not dumb as 'dumb means you are unable to speak and clearly you are speaking,'" the decision says.

He then retold the story to a colleague, who told some students were non-verbal.

He responded with, "yeah, and they are dumb."

In November 2021, the school district suspended him for one month without pay.

He resigned three months later.

He is now being reprimanded by the teaching regulator.

"Timmermans failed to treat students equitably with acceptance, dignity and respect and failed to show adequate care for students’ mental and emotional wellbeing," the decision says. "Timmermans failed to model appropriate behaviour expected of an educator."

Timmermans signed a consent agreement admitting to his conduct.

He now has to complete the course Creating a Positive Learning Environment.

READ MORE: B.C. teacher with shoddy record gets suspended, again

The decision does not say whether he's still teaching or not.

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