B.C. teacher banned for viewing porn at school

The B.C. College of Teachers has disciplined an Abbotsford teacher who admitted to viewing adult pornography on school computers and having inappropriate thoughts about students.

Carl Williamson has been banned from getting teaching certification in the province for at least 20 years after a school security investigation at the Mennonite Educational Institute last year caught him looking at porn.

The Grade 6 teacher also admitted spending $8,000 on prostitutes and escorts, according to a conduct review decision by the college, the regulatory group for teachers.

"Mr. Williamson acknowledged that he had inappropriate sexual thoughts about students between the ages of 12 and 18," the decision said.

It was not the first time Williamson has been reported for viewing porn on school computers. The college decided not to take action against him in May 2007. 

The second conduct review yielded a different outcome, according to college spokesman Mykle Ludvigsen.

"In this case, unfortunately, obviously, there was a second case that came forward and then that was dealt with obviously in a different manner," Ludvigsen said.

Police investigated, but no charges were laid.

Earlier this month, the college accepted an agreed statement of facts and imposed the teaching certificate prohibition.

The Mennonite Educational Institute's principal would not comment, except to say the incident has been "traumatic" for the school.

Williamson did not respond Tuesday to interview requests from the CBC.