B.C.’s commissioner for teacher regulation has disciplined an Interior high school teacher for inappropriate touching of female students in a gym class and making demeaning comments.
The June 19 decision released July 8 said Todd Erin Graham was teaching a fitness and conditioning class in 2022.
It said that, between September and December 2022, when Graham was teaching a Grade 11 fitness and conditioning class, he separated the girls and boys for a meeting.
“In that meeting, Graham told the girls that he was ‘not a pedophile’ but that he might have to ‘grab them’ to show them proper form or to spot them,” the decision said. “Graham then told them that he had no attraction to them as he was 52 and they were 15.”
Students reported feeling uncomfortable.
Graham would periodically touch students to help them with their form or identify muscle groups they were working, according to the decision.
Again, some female students reported feeling uncomfortable.
On Jan. 16, 2023, the district issued Graham a letter of discipline for that conduct and required him to attend a boundaries course through the district’s teachers' association.
On Aug. 29, 2024, the district made a report to the commissioner about the events.
The decision also said Graham, in the 2022/20223 school year, singled out a student using an unflattering term.
The decision said he also singled out an Indigenous student in front of their classmates, in a demeaning manner to the student and Indigenous Peoples generally.
For that, the unnamed school district, on Feb. 16, 2024, issued Graham a letter of discipline and required him to complete a First Nations reconciliation program and a course on Indigenous cultural safety.
The district reported those instances to the commissioner March 6, 2024. An investigation was subsequently ordered.
The commissioner found:
• Graham failed to create a positive learning environment or to model appropriate behaviour;
• his conduct adversely impacted students;
• his word choices and comments were contrary to a standard requiring teachers to respect and value the history of First Nations, Inuit and Metis in Canada and to contribute toward truth, reconciliation and healing;
• Graham’s actions harmed the First Nations students in his class and did not contribute towards truth, reconciliation and healing; and that,
• Graham failed to respect appropriate boundaries, making students feel uncomfortable.
The commissioner determined Graham’s conduct was unprofessional and a one-day suspension was issued.
