Ms. Alexandra McLean has my sympathy. For the crime of prioritizing safety and consistency, she’s forfeited five weeks’ pay, will endure a two-day licence suspension, and been muzzled with a severe gag order (Pique, Feb. 7, “Whistler teacher’s certificate temporarily suspended”). Her heightened responses reflect the gravity of the situations her students imposed upon her and fellow classmates. Could she have handled things better? Perhaps. But who amongst us is free of that failing?
The Commission for Teacher Regulation’s obsession with student “wellness” is rather extreme. If one misbehaves and breaks the rules, should one not expect a touch of discomfort, shame, anxiety, and fear of consequences? Is it reasonable to expect a teacher to enforce standards without ever instilling unease in one who has fallen short of expectations?
The hypocrisy is staggering. Students must never suffer a single adverse emotion. But woe betide a teacher who has a student that feels anything short of blissful acceptance. These cosseted students will have a rude awakening when encountering reality beyond the Commission’s suffocating embrace.
