Teacher’s lapdance caught on tape, watched by world

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This article was published 24/02/2010 (6046 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

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It’s the lap dance that’s gone viral.

Everyone from Inside Edition to a variety of different news websites and blogs is tuning in to the lapdance between two teachers that was captured on a student’s cell phone at Churchill High School last week.

The video, taken last Wednesday during a well-attended pep rally for Grade 9 through 12 students, shows students giggling, gasping and screaming as a female teacher — identified as Chrystie Fitchner — receives a strip club-style lap dance from a male teacher.

It’s believed the male teacher was a substitute.

On Tuesday night at a Churchill High event, one parent 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 embarassed me. While we were first watchinrg it I said, ‘They crossed the line.’ My daughter said, ‘Wait, it gets better.’ "

To translate teenspeak, it got worse: Among other things, the minute-long clip, which looks like it was made on a cellphone, shows the male teacher bobbing his head near the female teacher’s genitals, and grinding his rear end 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 Tuesday afternoon.

A WSD spokesperson said 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 teen 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 its a serious thing, but they didn’t mean to hurt anyone."

Some parents fear the teachers’ actions have hurt the school itself. "Churchill has really, really good teachers," said a parent, who said the small Riverview school has been a wonderful environment for her two children. "It makes me feel sad, because now they’ll be drawn into that sort of garbage. That this happened is stupidity, but it shouldn’t reflect on the school."

Babinsky said the behaviour was "totally inappropriate."

"They look to me like younger staff who got way too into it," he said.

"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."

melissa.martin@freepress.mb.ca