A Hope Secondary School teacher faces disciplinary action after throwing a “small computer charging device” at a Grade 8 student.
Justin Ray Arnesto is currently facing a series of disciplinary actions — which includes a three-day suspension of his certificate of qualification — after throwing the device at his student, for allegedly not paying attention in class, on Jan. 19, 2022. The decision to discipline Arnesto was reached on Feb. 6 with the report published Tuesday morning (Feb. 20).
According to the British Columbia Commissioner for Teacher Regulation, after throwing the object Arnesto became concerned about what he had done and tried negotiating with the student at lunchtime to not speak with the principal. This included trying to get the student to speak with him in an empty room, which the student refused to do.
“Student A (said that they were) going to speak with the school principal,” the commissioner said in their report. “Arnesto was afraid and angry. He told Student A that telling the principal would ‘not make any difference,’ because the principal ‘will take my side over your side.’
“At this point, Student A saw the principal some distance away in the hallway and went to speak with her. Arnesto followed Student A and also attempted to speak to the principal to tell his ‘side of the story’.”
Later in the year, on March 7, 2022, Arnesto lost his temper again and broke and threw a pencil at a student after becoming “angry and frustrated at the behaviour of some of his students.”
These incidents were brought to the Commissioner’s attention on July 5, 2023, in a report made by the Fraser Cascade School District. In the Commissioner’s report, the district said they could not investigate the January 2022 incident earlier “because Arnesto was not at work in part of May and June of 2022 and from September 2022 to late January 2023.”
As punishment for his actions, under section 53 of the Teachers Act: Arnesto’s certificate of qualification is being suspended from May 22, 2024 to May 24, 2024; he needs to successfully complete the course Creating a Positive Learning Environment through the Justice Institute of British Columbia, and “provide satisfactory proof of completion to the Commissioner” by March 30.
Failing to complete the course will result in Arnesto’s suspension of his certification for a longer period of time. It will only be reinstated once he completes the course.
“By his conduct, Arnesto failed to create a positive, safe and inclusive learning environment,” the commissioner said in the report. “His unpredictable way of interacting with students created stress for some students and undermined the learning environment and students’ emotional safety.
“Arnesto failed to role model appropriate behaviour and did not treat students with acceptance, dignity and respect. (he also) used his position of power and trust for his own benefit by making Student A speak with him and attempting to coerce Student A so that Arnesto could limit the potential consequences of his actions.”
To read the full report visit, https://teacherregulation.gov.bc.ca/documents/FormsandPublications/ProfConduct/DisciplineOutcomes/ARNESTO_CRA_20240206.pdf .