Pehgee Agnes Boholst Aranas, an elementary school principal at a certified band school, was fired in May 2024
A former principal of a First Nations school on the north Island has been given a three-day suspension for spanking a Grade 1 student.
Pehgee Agnes Boholst Aranas, an elementary school principal at a certified band school, entered into a consent resolution agreement with B.C.’s Commissioner for Teacher Regulation last month.
The commissioner’s report says a school employee witnessed Aranas spanking a First Nations Grade 1 student at the school in November 2023.
TheTimes Colonistis not identifying the school or the community to protect the privacy of the child.
In a subsequent meeting with nation members, Aranas incorrectly claimed that the student’s parents had approved the spanking and “made comments which were inconsistent with truth, reconciliation and healing,” the report said.
She was placed on leave after the meeting so an investigation could take place.
Aranas was told by the nation that she couldn’t tell colleagues details of why she was on leave, but told at least two employees at the school that someone had reported her, the report said.
Aranas signed an agreement in January 2024 not to touch or otherwise make contact with any student in any school where she was working unless it was to protect the student from immediate harm.
She was fired from her job by the nation on May 10, 2024.
The commissioner’s report found Aranas did not treat the student that she spanked with dignity and respect and her conduct was inconsistent with teacher standards.
Arana’s actions harmed the community’s trust and safety in the education system, it said.
“Her actions perpetuated the harmful legacy of physical abuse in Indian Residential Schools and reflected a belief in harmful stereotypes,” the report said.
Previously, Aranas had been disciplined for making inappropriate comments about the community.
She was issued a warning letter after writing an email to a school worker that had called in sick.
The email, dated June 16, 2021, read in part: “Suck it up, buttercup!!! The symptoms are just injection symptoms and not actual sickness! Tough native men like you have survived worse??? Lol.”
As part of the disciplinary process, Aranas has been ordered to take two courses through the Justice Institute of B.C. related to systemic racism and creating a positive learning environment.
Aranas was first certified as a qualified teacher in B.C. in 1997.
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