We support Jacqueline Laurent-Auger

Jacqueline Laurent-Auger, a theater teacher at Collège Jean-de-Brébeuf for 15 years, was dismissed. The College administration justified their decision by evoking a "distractor", due to the fact that some students have found on the internet films from the 1960s where Ms. Laurent-Auger appears half-naked. The administration uses that pretext to wrongly support the idea that the educational climate was not conducive to learning anymore, adding that teachers should serve as a models for students.

The reasons supported by the College are totally unjustified, considering that:

- No evidence is available to the fact that the erotic films of the 1960s in which appears Jacqueline Laurent-Auger are, beyond any reasonable doubt, an element of distraction at the root of an alleged worsening teaching environment.

- The films in which played Jacqueline Laurent-Auger concern her private life. Moreover, there is no evidence to the fact that the past of this teacher undermines in any way her teaching skills.

- Jacqueline Laurent-Auger was hired by the College 15 years ago, while the films in question are from the 1960s. If Ms. Laurent-Auger's past was not a barrier to being hired 15 years ago, there is no reason, in the absence of valid and rigorous evidence, it constitutes one today.

- Teachers should always be evaluated on their skills, according to specific and valid criteria, and not according to the judgments of conscience free of empirical verification.

 

Therefore, we offer Jacqueline Laurent-Auger our support and demand that Collège Jean-de-Brébeuf reverse its decision to dismiss her and present apologies.