The consequences for two teachers shown performing a lap-dance in a video taken at Churchill High School were too harsh, said some students at the school. Some parents, however, suggested the fall-out conveys a cautionary tale to others.
On Monday evening, the Winnipeg School Division said it had accepted the resignation of one of the teachers, Chrystie Fitchner, while the contract for the other teacher, Adeil Ahmed, has ended. Both had been suspended without pay in early March.
Videos of the teachers' lap-dance performance received international attention in February after some students filmed it at a dance-off competition and posted it online.
Some students who observed the dance at the school, or viewed it online, think the fall-out has been too great.
"It was just a dance. I really didn't care about it," said Kyle Geronimo.
"It was a joke that went too far and the media shouldn't have been involved, because it was a joke," said Matt Madden, another student.
Parent Michelle Sagers said the incident was not a joke and those involved experienced the consequences, even though there may not have been any harm intended.
"They didn't think about what they were doing, but they didn't do it with a bad intent," said Sagers.
Trustees from the Winnipeg School Division met Monday evening to examine the issue.
"This issue has been tough on everyone. Our staff is our greatest resource and we know this has been tough on all of them too," said Jackie Sneesby, board chair for the Winnipeg School Division on Monday.
In a statement, the division said, "The two teachers had performed an inappropriate dance during a school spirit week."
The investigation into the incident is now over, said school division officials.
As for the student who first posted the video of the lap-dance online, the school board would only say the matter has been dealt with. The school division has a policy on cellphones, but the lap-dance incident happened outside of the classroom setting.
The Winnipeg School Division also called the incident an isolated one and said it has 3,000 teachers who follow its code of conduct. The code is reviewed with teachers every fall.
- with a report from CTV's Eleanor Coopsammy
