The Discipline Committee ordered that the teaching certificate of Fernanda Caranfa be revoked for posting, replying to and retweeting multiple statements publicly on Twitter (renamed ‘X’ in 2023) that were discriminatory, offensive and harmful and exposed Jewish people and members of the 2SLGBTQ+ communities to hatred.
During the time in question, Caranfa was a retired teacher and identified herself as such on her Twitter account.
Caranfa, who was certified to teach in June 1981, did not attend the hearing on July 3 and October 10, 2024, and did not have legal representation.
Examples of the offensive remarks made or shared on Caranfa’s Twitter account included:
- calling Jewish people “nobody’s friend,” “enemies of Christ,” “baby killers” and “Moloch worshippers”;
- promoting Holocaust denial and conspiracy theories about Jewish people;
- stating “God destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah for the very things we are celebrating and teaching in schools.”
Caranfa also made further harmful remarks about the Jewish and 2SLGBTQ+ communities in her communications with the College, admitting that she publicly stated on Twitter that: “Jews were a danger (or enemy) to society.”
The Discipline Committee panel found Caranfa guilty of professional misconduct and held that her remarks and behaviour had the effect of exposing Jewish people and members of the 2SLGBTQ+ communities to hatred. The panel further found Caranfa to be ungovernable as she was unresponsive and uncooperative with the College throughout this proceeding and showed a lack of insight into the serious and problematic nature of her behaviour.
The panel ordered that Caranfa’s Certificate of Qualification and Registration be revoked and that she receive a reprimand.
In addition, Caranfa was ordered to pay $10,000 in costs to the College, in relation to this proceeding, within 120 days of the panel’s written decision.
In their written decision, the panel stated: “[Caranfa]’s intentional use of social media to publicly espouse discriminatory views against protected groups constitutes disgraceful, dishonourable and unprofessional conduct that sets a poor example for all members of the profession.”
The panel added: “Though [Caranfa] was not teaching at the time of her conduct, and her actions were not associated with classroom activities, members of the profession are required to refrain from unbecoming conduct, even when they are off duty.”
