{"result":"update_story","description":"<p>A BC elementary school principal has been reprimanded and her teaching licence suspended for spanking a Grade 1 student and making &ldquo;inappropriate comments&rdquo; about the First Nations community she was working in.<\/p> <p><meta charset=\"utf-8\" \/><\/p> <p dir=\"ltr\">The latest consent resolution agreement published online is between the BC Commissioner for Teach Regulation and Pehgee Agnes Boholst Aranas.<\/p> <p dir=\"ltr\">Under the Teachers Act, the student and First Nation community mentioned in the agreement are not named to protect the identity of the student.<\/p> <p dir=\"ltr\">In November 2023, Aranas spanked the child (Student A), which was witnessed by a school employee (Employee A) who reported it to school administrators.<\/p>\n\t\t<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-1515615292703-0\" class=\"dfp-ad dfp-in-content\" style=\"margin-bottom:15px;\">\n\t\t<script>\n\t\t\tgoogletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display(\"div-gpt-ad-1515615292703-0\"); });\n\t\t<\/script>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t <p dir=\"ltr\"><img alt=\"&lt;who&gt; Photo Credit: 123rf\" src=\"\/files\/files\/images\/850%20_%20446(51)(1).png\" style=\"margin: 5px;\" \/><\/p> <p dir=\"ltr\">After the incident, Aranas was asked to meet with members of the First Nation. The Commissioner wrote that during the meeting Aranas incorrectly claimed the student&rsquo;s parents approved her spanking their child.<\/p> <p dir=\"ltr\">The Commissioner said she also made comments which &ldquo;were inconsistent with truth, reconciliation and healing.&rdquo;<\/p> <p dir=\"ltr\">After the meeting, Aranas was placed on leave from the school pending an investigation.<\/p> <p>She was told she could advise her colleagues she was one leave but not to discuss any other details. However, Aranas told at least two school employees that Employee A had reported her.<\/p> <p dir=\"ltr\">In December 2023, the manager of the First Nation made a complaint to the Commissioner.<\/p> <p dir=\"ltr\">On Jan. 4, 2024, Aranas signed an undertaking in which she agreed not to make contact with students unless it was necessary to protect them from immediate risk or harm.<\/p> <p dir=\"ltr\">The First Nation terminated Aranas&rsquo; employment on May 10, 2024.<\/p> <p dir=\"ltr\">According to the Commissioner she had previously been disciplined for making inappropriate comments about the First Nations community.<\/p> <p dir=\"ltr\">&ldquo;On June 16, 2021, Aranas was issued a written warning letter after she wrote an email to an employee who had called in sick. In that email, Aranas wrote: &lsquo;Suck it up, buttercup!!! The symptoms are just injection symptoms and not actual sickness! Tough native men like you have survived worse??? Lol,&rsquo;&rdquo; the Commissioner wrote.<\/p> <p dir=\"ltr\">On May 30, 2025, Aranas entered into a consent resolution agreement with the Commissioner.<\/p> <p dir=\"ltr\">Aranas also agreed to a three-day suspension and to complete a course on creating a positive learning environment by Mar. 31, 2025 which she did.<\/p> <p dir=\"ltr\">Aranas was directed to complete a course on systemic racism in Canada through the Canadian Race Relations Foundation by June 30, 2025.<\/p> <p dir=\"ltr\">The Commissioner said the disciplinary action was necessary and appropriate because Aranas&rsquo;s actions were not in the student&rsquo;s best interest and she did not treat the student with dignity or respect while failing to create a safe and inclusive learning environment.<\/p> <p dir=\"ltr\">&ldquo;Aranas&rsquo; conduct was inconsistent with Standard #9. Her actions perpetuated the harmful legacy of physical abuse in Indian Residential Schools and reflected a belief in harmful stereotypes,&rdquo; the Commissioner wrote.<\/p> <p dir=\"ltr\">&ldquo;Her actions harmed Student A, negatively impacted the community&rsquo;s feelings of trust and safety in the education system and did not contribute towards truth, reconciliation and healing.&rdquo;<\/p>","title":"BC principal suspended for spanking child, making comments 'inconsistent with truth, reconciliation'"}