Kids don’t behave ‘like normal people’: suspended BC teacher

The BC Commissioner for Teacher Regulation has ordered that a Vancouver elementary school teacher be reprimanded and take remedial courses after being suspended twice.

The first incident, resulting in a three-day, unpaid suspension, occurred in December 2021 when Lisa Schwarz prohibited a student with an Individualized Education Plan (IEP) from leaving the classroom during recess.

At the classroom door, Schwarz blocked the student, who needed more breaks than usual, and made contact with the student’s hand when the student tried to turn the doorknob to exit.

According to the commissioner’s ruling, the student’s hand was bruised as a result of the physical contact.

“Schwarz failed to properly manage her classroom and responded to student behavior in inappropriate ways,” the ruling said, including raising her voice at students. Once, Schwarz became frustrated with students and asked them, “Why can’t you act like normal people?” ”

Schwarz also used her personal cell phone during class hours and exchanged text messages directly with a student, who was absent due to illness.

Schwarz also failed to properly follow the procedures in her students’ IEPs. For example, Schwarz did not make changes to the content of her students’ IEPs and did not appropriately consult with parents about the IEPs.

Schwarz was transferred out of the learning assistance program to work as a permanent teacher who teaches on-call.

Another incident, during the 2022-2023 school year, that led to a five-day suspension involved the following: “Schwarz used inappropriate methods to appeal to student interest in a controversial public figure known for making problematic statements about women, including by sharing an anecdote about sexual violence and efforts to address it in the justice system, and by playing a video with age-inappropriate content, language, and discussions about sexual violence.”

Schwarz signed a consent agreement for the reprimand and promised to successfully complete the course Creating a positive learning environment through the Justice Institute of British Columbia.

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