11 teachers suspended over allegations of ‘toxic’ climate at Montreal primary school

Quebec government appointed monitors to address the climate of fear and intimidation it said had taken root at the French-language school

Quebec’s largest school service centre is suspending 11 teachers at a Montreal elementary school after a government investigation found they fostered a “toxic” environment.

In a move it described as unprecedented, the Centre de services scolaires de Montreal says its director general asked administrators to immediately suspend the teachers at Bedford school in the city’s multicultural Cote-des-Neiges district.

It says Isabelle Gelinas made the decision Thursday evening after the provincial government’s investigative committee passed on the names of educators who allegedly subjected students to violence as well as claims that autism does not exist.

Last week, the Quebec government appointed monitors to address the climate of fear and intimidation it said had taken root at the French-language school.

They are slated to investigate the allegations and make recommendations along with an action plan by Nov. 30, with the 11 teachers suspended until at least that time.

Quebec’s measures follow a report made public earlier this month concluding there was a “dominant clan” of teachers who imposed strict, autocratic rule over students and intimidated and ostracized anyone who opposed them.

Our website is the place for the latest breaking news, exclusive scoops, longreads and provocative commentary. Please bookmark nationalpost.com and sign up for our daily newsletter, Posted, here.

Related Posts


This will close in 0 seconds