A Vancouver teacher has been reprimanded for posting insulting comments about religion on Facebook.
According to a B.C. Commissioner for Teacher Regulation ruling released Tuesday, John William Yetman, a high school teacher with 31 years’ experience, used his open Facebook page to write “intemperate and insulting comments about religion” on Feb. 25, 2019, in response to a public ad for Open Mosque Day B.C.
“Members of the public saw Yetman’s post, and some reported feeling concerned that a teacher would display this level of intolerance,” the ruling stated.
Yetman, whose Facebook profile identified him as a teacher with the Vancouver school board, later removed the post as well as other similar Facebook posts that were insulting to other major religions.
This month, Yetman entered a consent resolution agreement with the commissioner for teacher regulation in which he agreed his conduct constituted professional misconduct and conduct unbecoming a teacher.
In receiving his reprimand, Yetman, who wasn’t suspended, agreed his posts “could undermine his efforts to provide an inclusive learning environment for his students.”
