Teacher punished for prank

Photo: The Canadian Press

Empty teachers desk at the front of an empty classroom at McGee Secondary school in Vancouver, B.C. Friday, Sept. 5, 2014. (THE CANADIAN PRESS / Jonathan Hayward)

A B.C. shop teacher has been reprimanded for pulling a homophobic prank against one of his Grade 11 students last year.

Daniel Ogloff of Aldergrove Community Secondary School was reported after sneaking a piece of masking tape onto the boy’s jacket with the words “I’m gay” written on it in September 2013.

CTV Vancouver reports Ogloff, a metal fabrication and machining teacher, then made a shush gesture to other students, some of whom were laughing and taking photos.

The boy left the classroom unaware of the sign.

A disciplinary report by the B.C. Commissioner for Teacher Regulation said Ogloff considered the prank to be “horseplay,” but admitted his conduct was still unacceptable.

“Ogloff acted unprofessionally, disrespectfully and without regard for students’ physical and emotional safety,” it said.

The school district suspended him without pay for 10 weeks from November to January. He was also ordered to participate in restorative action with the student and complete courses determined by the district.

“Ogloff disputes the appropriateness of this discipline,” the report said.

As a final measure, the teacher’s certificate of qualification was suspended for two weeks starting Monday of this week.

Ogloff was previously given a verbal warning in 2011 for inappropriate comments made to Grade 7 students.