Children allegedly placed in lockers as punishment at Mille-Îles school north of Montreal

Children at an elementary school in the Centre de services scolaire des Mille-Îles (CSSMI), north of Montreal, were allegedly placed inside a padded locker to "calm them down," according to published reports. The allegation is unproven. The Direction de la protection de la jeunesse (DPJ) and Blainville police are investigating.

At least three children, aged five to seven, are involved. The alleged method was repeatedly placing them inside a padded locker, which was reportedly not locked while a child was inside. The school's name has not been disclosed. Four staff members, including a teacher and a special education technician, have reportedly been suspended.

The allegation was first reported by radio station 98.5, and La Presse Canadienne carried it. Joël Arseneau, the Parti Québécois representative for Îles-de-la-Madeleine and a former education minister, wrote on social media that "intervention methods used with students must align with recognized best practices and must respect their safety, dignity, and specific needs. Under no circumstances should students ever be confined inside lockers." Liberal education critic Marc Tanguay called the practice unacceptable and said the minister is responsible for what happens under his leadership.

Mélanie Poirier, communications coordinator for the CSSMI, said the board "acted quickly to correct the situation" once it was brought to attention, and that measures were put in place to allow authorities to conduct their investigations. "Rest assured that we take this situation very seriously and that the safety, dignity and well-being of students remain at the heart of our concerns," she said.

The number of students involved and how long children were kept inside the lockers are not known. No response from the four suspended staff members is in the material.