Investigation Committee Case Study

What Would You Do?

The College's Investigation Committee considers all complaints made to the College about its members and reviews all information resulting from investigations. The committee can dismiss a complaint or refer the matter, in whole or in part, to the Discipline or Fitness to Practise committees for a hearing.

The Investigation Committee may also caution or admonish the member in writing or in person, or provide written reminders or advice, or adopt a Memorandum of Agreement reached through the complaint resolution process.

By law, cases under investigation are confidential. For the education of members, the following account, based on facts from real cases, raises important questions about teacher conduct, such as what is appropriate and what is not. Details have been altered to respect confidentiality.

The College received a complaint from a school board regarding Jane, a high school teacher. It was alleged that her conduct was unprofessional when she:

• failed to ensure that the students she was responsible for were adequately supervised;
• did not contact the school administration for assistance when she found her assigned classroom (the gymnasium) was empty; and
• denied that she spoke with another teacher regarding the whereabouts of her students.

The board's investigation revealed that when Jane went to the gymnasium to start her class, she found that no students were present and made no effort to locate them.

Her board advised her that she should have known to contact the principal or vice-principal for guidance.

The investigation also revealed that Jane had discussed the whereabouts of her students with a colleague, though she maintained she had not.

Jane acknowledged that she was at fault for failing to locate and supervise her students.

If you were a member of the Investigation Committee panel, what would you have issued to Jane?

• an admonishment in person (most severe)
• an admonishment in writing
• a written caution
• written advice
• a written reminder (least severe)

The Outcome

The panel decided to caution Jane in writing. The panel felt that her lack of supervision was a serious lapse of judgment. Members of the panel were also concerned that Jane's denying she talked to a colleague created doubt about her abilities to fulfil her obligations as a member of the profession.