The Discipline Committee ordered that the teaching certificate of Jean-François Bourdon be suspended for engaging in several inappropriate physical interventions with Student 1, a student with a developmental disability.
During the time in question, Bourdon was employed as a teacher by the Conseil des écoles catholiques du Centre-Est.
Bourdon, who was certified to teach in June 1989, attended the hearing on April 3, 2025, and was self-represented.
On one occasion, Bourdon was in the hallway and heard Student 1 laughing hysterically while alone in the washroom. Student 1 had made a mess with water on the floor and was repeatedly pressing the button on the dryer to the point where it was emitting blue sparks. Bourdon took Student 1 by the left arm, brought him to another room and shouted, “That’s enough!” and then slammed the door to the room.
On another occasion, Bourdon asked Student 1 to get up from his desk to go to another room and, when Student 1 didn’t get up, Bourdon pulled the chair out from under Student 1 after trying to pull Student 1 up by the arm. As a result, Student 1 fell to the ground, though he was not injured.
In a separate incident, while Student 1 was in the cafeteria cleaning tables, Bourdon came up behind Student 1 and grabbed him by the upper arms with both hands. Before cleaning the tables, Student 1 had thrown a towel at an educator, was opening windows and hiding behind tables.
At the time of Bourdon’s physical intervention, Student 1 posed no danger to himself or others.
In light of these incidents, a report was made to the Children’s Aid Society who investigated the matter and concluded that there was a risk to the well-being of a child (Student 1) related to a probable risk of abuse by a community caregiver (the Member).
The Discipline Committee panel found Bourdon guilty of professional misconduct and ordered that his Certificate of Qualification and Registration be suspended for two months.
He was also directed to receive a reprimand.
In addition, he was directed to complete a course regarding the appropriate use of interventions with students and the appropriate use of strategies involving physical interventions. He was directed to do so prior to accepting a position that requires a Certificate of Qualification and Registration.
In their written decision, the Discipline Committee panel stated, “Teachers are expected to be respectful in their interactions with students and refrain from unnecessary physical contact, especially when students pose no danger to themselves or others.”
