WINNIPEG â€" A pair of Winnipeg teachers engaging in risque business set off a media riot after a video of a simulated lap dance from a school event went viral.
The video, taken last Wednesday during a well-attended pep rally for Grade 9 through 12 students at Churchill High School, shows students giggling, gasping and screaming as a female teacher receives a strip club-style lap dance from a male teacher.
By Thursday afternoon, students were spreading a minute-long video of the dance among each other on Facebook. On Monday afternoon, clips from the video were aired on CBC television.
Tuesday night, one parent of a Churchill High student groaned after learning that the video had gone national. "They so, so crossed the line," said the parent, whose daughter showed her the video last week.
"It embarrassed me. While we were first watching it I said, 'they crossed the line.' My daughter said, 'wait, it gets better.'"
To translate, it got worse: among other things, the minute-long clip, which looks as if it were made on a cellphone, shows the male teacher bobbing his head near the female teacher's crotch, and grinding his rear against her crotch.
The teachers, who are said to be relatively new to Churchill's staff, were sent home with pay after a parent complained about the video, said Winnipeg School Division trustee Mike Babinsky. Babinsky first learned of the video from a television producer on Monday afternoon.
A spokesperson said Tuesday the division could not comment on personnel matters, but that it does "expect respectful and professional conduct from all of our staff at all times."
While many students thought the stunt was "gross," the hubbub over the video is overblown, one said. "At first we didn't realize what was going on," said a student who was standing close to the action at the pep rally.
"Once the kids started screaming, it was like, 'oh, my goodness.' I just think the joke went too far. I think they should be talking to them, but I don't think they should be suspended. I understand it's a serious thing, but they didn't mean to hurt anyone."
Maybe it's simply a reflection of a culture where adding a little bump 'n' grind is just good for business. "They look to me like younger staff who got way too into it," Babinsky said, noting that the behaviour was "totally inappropriate."
"You can't just look the other way in situations like this. By the same token, if you were to turn on the TV, within the next hour you'd find something similar to that on a music station. Society is sending mixed messages."
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