Teachers' discipline to go public in B.C.

Parents and studentswill soon be able to get information about teachers who have been disciplined by their governing body, as the result of new legislation being introduced by Education Minister Shirley Bond.

The change will also allow school districts to get information about teachers' employment histories.

Bond said the new legislation is about keeping kids safe in school. But B.C. Teachers' Federation president Jinny Sims disagrees.

She said the union agrees that school districts should have access to teachers' employment histories, but added thata public discipline registry will do nothing to protect students from harm.

She also noted if a teacher is sanctioned for serious misbehaviour, that information is already published by the College of Teachers.

"I don't see how child protection is improved, just because you can go on the website at three in the morning," said Sims.

But the education minister said the information on the college's website is inconsistent, andthat herlegislation makes the reporting specific and required.

"It will clearly identify who has been disciplined, why they've been disciplined and what actions have been taken."

Sims said publishing every small grievance opens the door to harassment against teachers by parents and students

Bond said only cases involving sexual, physical or emotional abuse will appear on the website, although the bill itself sets no such parameters.