Teacher punished for sharing 'creepy' films and dating details with students

A teacher has been disciplined for sharing "creepy" filmsand dating details with students in northern B.C.

James Douglas Thwaites was a substitute teacher in the Nechako School District, west of Prince George, for students in grades 3 to 8.

Thwaites showed "poor judgment," "inappropriate behaviour,"and professional misconduct during several incidents in 2018, according to an agreed statement of facts released last month by the B.C. Commissioner for Teacher Regulation.

'Creepy' films had sexual innuendo

It statesThwaites showed inappropriate short films to students in grades 7 and 8.

They included violentpuppets and stick figures, as well assexual innuendo.

Students described the films as "weird, creepy, and inappropriate."

Thwaites also toldstudents about his divorce, the expenseof hisbreak-up, and his romance with an overseas girlfriend.

While working as asubstitute teacherfora grade 3/4 class, Thwaites discussed "crushes" with several students.

Student told, 'Oh, you're such a player'

"Thwaites asked one studenthow his girlfriends were and told him: 'Oh, you're such a player,'"according to the commissioner's written ruling.

Prior to these incidents, in 2016 and 2017,school officials had twice issuedThwaiteswritten reminders to maintain professional boundaries and respect.

After the incidents in 2018, Thwaites resigned from the Nechako School District.

Soon after, he completed a course in professional boundaries atthe Justice Institute of B.C.

The Commissioner for Teacher Regulation imposed a two-day suspension on Thwaites.

Teacher now works at school in remote area

But the suspension was imposed retroactively so as not to "adversely affect" students in Thwaites' current teaching job.

The commissioner states Thwaites is now teaching at a small school in a remote area.

The school was not identified, but Thwaites signed the disciplinary agreement in Yekooche, a remote Indigenous community in northern B.C.