Two Teachers One Chair: Naughty Lap Dance Video Gets High School Teachers Suspended

By: Kealan Oliver
Topics: Daily Blotter

NEW YORK (CBS) A pep rally had a little extra zip (and maybe, zipper) when two teachers engaged in a lap dance in the middle of the gym floor at a high school in Winnipeg, Canada.

During the cheering at Churchill High School, senior gym teacher Chrystie Fitchner, dressed as a cheerleader, got a lap dance lesson from a male teacher dressed as a football player, wearing number 13.

Unlucky for them -- all the gyrations in the gym are there for everyone to see, courtesy of a student filming in the crowd, who posted it on YouTube.

According to Los Angeles television station KTLA both teachers are suspended with pay but are expected to return to work.

Go team!

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by GypsyMagpie February 27, 2010 12:12 AM EST: I appreciate all of the above comments. I understand those who feel that this particular story may not be of any relevance...a group of kids having fun!! However, as a Canadian teacher, maybe I can shed some light on the real issues. First, most provinces, if not all, have a requirement that all teachers take a course designed to specifically outline ethical and professional conduct that is expected on the part of certified teachers under their authority. Secondly, most provinces, if not all, also have created policies that deal with issues of sexuality and abuse which all teachers are expected to complete before being hired within any jurisdiction. There is clearly an attempt by most Canadian provincial bodies who govern teachers to ensure that the quality of their staff reflects conscientious, ethical and professional educators. That being said...those who are on the front-lines ensuring that the actions of teachers are monitored and managed are School Administrators. This is not always an easy task!! But ultimately administrators are responsible to 'manage' every aspect of their school...including the teaching staff.

That being said, this is not an attempt to pass the buck nor am I trying to belittle or excuse the actions of the teachers involved, but an important question that needs to be asked is where were the administrators when this Pep Rally was taking place? If they were not present then it raises a red flag for me. I believe an administrator needs to be visible and present, even if they are standing on the sidelines. This provides a sense of support for both teachers and students. It is not clear through the reports whether the administrators were present or not, however, if they were and allowed this aspect of the rally to go on...then they are as much to blame as the two other teachers involved. Actually, their absence says one thing, but their presence and inability to recognize the unprofessional and ethical implications of the teacher's actions says something much more serious...leadership is lacking.

Although I do not enjoy seeing colleagues in these types of situations, I always look for the 'teachable' moment. This is clearly one of those times that students, teachers, administrators and parents all need to assess what really happened at this rally. How was a lap dance contributing to raising the spirit of the school when its only outcome was to place the school in the media lime light under heavy criticism and professional critique? (To many students today are looking through the lens of their iPod for that one youtube moment!!) As any good teacher knows, you should always have an outcome in mind when planning a lesson, what was the desired outcome behind the lap dance? If laughter was the outcome then are we so crass as to think that sexual innuendo is the only way to raise the spirits of students in our schools today? This certainly does not say much about how we value the higher order thinking of our students or the way we desire to take them to the heights of Bloom's Taxonomy. This clearly speaks to 'college-like antics' which I would hope that professional teaching staff have long since left behind!!

My thoughts are with everyone involved because, no matter if you are the teachers, the administrators, students or parents, it will be tough going for the next little while. Chock it up to 'growing pains'...and learn from past actions!!; Reply to this comment


by pragmatist1 February 26, 2010 4:57 PM EST: And then some wonder why kids are so immoral, promiscuous and irresponsible. These two also need to have their teaching licenses permanently revoked.; Reply to this comment


by deepperppl February 26, 2010 4:32 PM EST: In the US, they would have been fired and would (hopefully) never work with children again. Distasteful and absolutely inappropriate.; Reply to this comment


by MCMalkemus February 26, 2010 2:44 PM EST: Lucky they weren't in the US, they'd have been fired for sure!

Go Canada! Go! Go! Goooooooooooo!; Reply to this comment


by erb0087 February 26, 2010 2:16 PM EST: How did this silly story make it to CBSNews' "most viewed" list ?

While a fine and enlightening article like "Lithium: An Energy Source in the Desert" goes practically unnoticed ?; Reply to this comment


by pak31 February 25, 2010 10:47 AM EST: Just the fact that they even considered doing this in front of students in a school is just so stupid. What is wrong with people??; Reply to this comment