B.C. teacher disciplined for swearing, sexual jokes

B.C.’s Teacher Regulation Branch has published its latest set of disciplinary decisions including the case of a Dease Lake teacher who used profanity and showed inappropriate movies in class.

According to the disciplinary decision posted on the branch’s website, K-12 teacher David Ringlever agreed to resign from the Stikine school district in 2011 following a review.

The Teacher Regulation Branch says Ringlever made inappropriate sexual jokes in class, "often in an attempt to address homophobic comments and attitudes expressed by students."

Ringlever also used profanity on occasion, and several times showed "inappropriate" movies like the Trailer Park Boys, which is rated 18A.

The branch says Ringlever "failed to set appropriate professional boundaries," allowing students to come to his home to watch movies and use his computer.

He didn't teach major portions of the curriculum or adequately plan lessons, and left students unsupervised in the classroom.

Ringlever also instructed elementary school students to play a game he called "tap out," which had no rules and encouraged students to hold, squeeze, trip, or twist another child into submission until they tapped out.

According to the disciplinary decision, district staff tried to help Ringlever "implement effective teaching practices" several times between September 2009 and June 2010, but Ringlever and the district staff had "conflicting views" on how to handle his students.

Ringlever resigned from the district on Sept. 6, 2011. It’s not clear if he is teaching elsewhere.