B.C. teacher suspended for ‘frightening’ young students with yelling, fist-pounding

Desks are seen in an undated file image. (Credit: Bloomberg Creative Photos/Bloomberg)

An elementary school teacher from B.C. has been suspended after repeatedly “frightening” young students by yelling at them, and in some cases slamming his fists onto a child’s desk.

Benjamin Joseph Freeman’s conduct took place in the classroom during the 2021-22 school year, according to a summary of a consent agreement with B.C.’s Commissioner for Teacher Regulation.

The summary does not indicate what grade Freeman was teaching at the time, or which school district he was working for, citing the need to protect the identities of his former pupils.

It does outline several incidents that led to his suspension, including one in which he “made insensitive comments to one student’s parents about their child who had a diagnosis.” The document does not specify the nature of the diagnosis.

Freeman also “frequently yelled at” another student, sometimes while “towering over” the child and “slamming his fists repeatedly” onto their desk, according to the summary.

The same school year, Freeman walked into another student’s classroom and yelled at the child, then knocked their hat off and “grabbed a bag of food” out of their hands.

“Freeman’s conduct was frightening to students who were in elementary school,” the summary reads. “Freeman failed to consistently foster a learning environment that is emotionally, psychologically, and physically safe.”

The B.C. Commissioner for Teacher Regulation noted that Freeman’s employer had raised concerns about his behaviour before, on multiple occasions between 2018 and 2021, following complaints from parents that he had yelled at their children.

Even after receiving an initial three-day suspension, unpaid, from the school district for his conduct during the 2021-22 school year, Freeman went on to yell at another student in April 2022, according to the summary.

After the incidents were reviewed by the commissioner, Freeman admitted to professional misconduct and agreed to another three-day suspension of his teaching certificate.

He will also have to complete a course called “Foundations of Collaborative Conflict Resolution” by the end of March 2025.