Teacher reprimanded for likening Black Lives Matter protesters to animals
A School District #43 teacher was suspended and ordered to undergo sensitivity training following a series of disparaging and discriminatory comments.
Evgueni Vladimir Melnik was teaching a comparative civilizations class in May 2021 and leading a discussion about the Epic of Gilgamesh and immortality.
On the blackboard, he’d written: Animals, Humans, Jesus, and God.
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“At some point during the lesson, Melnik referenced Black Lives Matter protesters and circled Animals at least three times,” according to a judgment released by the B.C. Commissioner for Teacher Regulation.
“In a conversation with a student outside of class time, Melnik said he believed all lives matter and that the police were not the problem,” the judgment stated.
During the class discussion, Melnik had also referred to God and said: “everyone wants to reach this.”
In a discussion about the influence of media through the use of language, Melnik said: “the media has you believe that there are more than two genders when using the words ‘bisexual’ and ‘binary’ . . . there are so many labels, who cares?”
A student in the class who is a member of the LGBTQ community reported being “very upset” by the comment, according to the judgment.
Melnik also told the class that racism does not exist, and that what is described as racism stems from cultural differences. Discussing historic anti-Asian prejudice, Melnik referred to the “cultural traits” of Asian people who worked on the B.C. railroads and who he said were resented because they worked for less money and followed direction.
In December 2021, the district issued Melnik a letter of discipline and suspended him for eight days without pay.
“The views Melnik shared with his students did not align with the district’s expectation that teachers refrain from engaging in conduct or comment which disparages or discriminates against others,” the B.C. Commissioner for Teacher Regulation concluded.
Melnik was required to complete a diversity and sensitivity program offered by AICounselling Services.
As part of the agreement with the commissioner, Melnik admitted to professional misconduct and agreed to complete a course on creating a positive learning environment.
Melnik has also agreed not to make any statement which contradicts or otherwise calls into question the reprimand.
The agreement was finalized April 25.
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