BC teacher suspended for writing 'poop' on piece of tape and sticking it to kindergartener's arm

An elementary school teacher in British Columbia has been suspended after writing the word “poop” on a piece of tape and sticking it to a student’s arm.

Tania Christine Jacobsen, a veteran who has been qualified since 1992, was teaching a kindergarten class when the incident occurred.

That’s according to a newly released consent agreement between Jacobsen and the BC Commissioner for Teacher Regulation.

The Commissioner’s report explains that, on Nov. 25, 2022, Jacobsen wrote the word “poop” on a piece of green painter’s tape and then crossed it out.

She “briefly” stuck the tape onto the student’s arm, the report says.

The student – referred to only as “Student A” in the document – has “diverse abilities,” according to the Commissioner.

“Student A appeared distressed, embarrassed, and nearly in tears as this was done in front of Student A's classmates,” the agreement states. “Jacobsen then removed the tape and said: ‘Student A, you cannot be saying that word or I might have to put this back on.’”

The report explains that Jacobsen was attempting to prevent the student from using the word “poop.”

Separately, Jacobsen is said to have failed to appropriately supervise kids under her care on two occasions in January 2023.

On one of those occasions, three of her students were found in a courtyard outside the classroom, with the door closed.

Jacobsen told those kids that: "I have your parents' phone numbers here and if you don't listen to the teacher, I will call them.”

On the same day, Jacobsen allowed a student to go outside to get an umbrella that was about 90 metres away from the classroom, past some parked cars.

The umbrella was “outside Jacobsen's field of vision,” the report says.

After being disciplined for the above incidents by her school district, which is based in Coquitlam, Jacobsen was suspended for one day without pay.

She was also told to attend workshops on teaching kids with autism.

Later, the Commissioner determined that Jacobsen had committed professional misconduct and suspended her for another two days.

The students were “particularly vulnerable,” the report explains, and the teacher “endangered the physical and emotional safety” of the kids under her care.