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Coach repeatedly slapped Grade 8s

A Langley teacher has been suspended and disciplined.
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A Langley teacher and basketball coach slapped Grade 8 boys multiple times, often for missing shots.

Jonathan Charles Fast has been disciplined and removed from his school for incidents that included slapping kids for missing free throws.

Fast was coaching his school's Grade 8 boys basketball team in the 2014-15 year, according to a consent agreement released by the Teacher Regulation Branch.

Three students were struck by Fast over the course of the school year.

The player identified as Student A left his gym shoes behind after a practice in December, 2014. Fast slapped the student in the face when he returned the boy's shoes the next day. Student A described the slap as a four out of 10 in terms of intensity.

On Jan. 13, Student A and Student B forgot to pick up permission forms. Fast ordered them to take off their shirts, then slapped each of them on their bare backs. The slaps were hard enough to cause pain and leave visible marks.

“This is what you get when you forget a form,” Fast said before the slapping.

The same day, Student C said he wanted to make a three-point shot, and if he missed Fast could slap him too.

When the student missed the shot he pulled up his shirt and Fast slapped him hard enough to leave red marks.

The resolution, which Fast has admitted is true, also says he struck Grade 8 boys for missing free throws the previous year.

This is the second time Fast has been disciplined for hitting students, after a 2007 incident in which he swung a lanyard and hit one of his students. He was given a verbal warning for that incident.

The Langley School District has already disciplined Fast, suspending him without pay from March 1 to June 30 last year, and transferring him to another school.

If he chooses to coach in the future, he must be with another district employee for three years at every event, including practices.

Fast was also ordered to complete a Boundaries Workshop by the BC Teachers Federation and is participating in ongoing peer support.

He transferred out of the Langley school district at the start of the current school year.

Fast has now agreed to accept a reprimand for his conduct.

 



Matthew Claxton

About the Author: Matthew Claxton

Raised in Langley, as a journalist today I focus on local politics, crime and homelessness.
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