FREDERIC SERRE
The 1019 Report

What began several weeks ago as a chance discovery by several students at Westwood High School’s junior campus of their art on sale on their teacher’s website has turned into a legal battle involving parents and the Lester B. Pearson School Board, and has put the St. Lazare school on the international map, thanks to widespread media coverage spreading as far as Australia and China.

Parents representing 10 students late last month filed a $1.5-million lawsuit against Westwood art teacher Mario Perron and the school board, claiming the students’ artwork was allegedly listed for sale on a website by Perron without their permission, thus violating copyright laws. The suit demands that Perron be disciplined with a possible dismissal, and requests an official apology by Perron and the school board, as well as the removal of the students’ artwork from the website, which is the only condition that has been met so far.

While Perron has refused to publicly comment on the controversy, parent Joel De Bellefeuille has taken the lead in denouncing what he describes as “an outrage.”

“Imagine your 13-year-old son coming home from school today with a story that his art teacher is selling students’ artwork online at $94 per drawing without their prior knowledge,” De Bellefeuille said. “That is completely insane. I’m sure I’m not the only parent who wants answers.”

De Bellefeuille decided to take matters into his own hands by hiring his brother, lawyer Martin De Bellefeuille, to represent the parents of the students, some of whom are as young as 12 years old.

The controversy began in February when students surfing the Internet stumbled upon their drawings on various items listed for sale on Perron’s website. They included T-shirts, coffee mugs and iPhone cases.

While officials with the school board have remained mum about specifics of the lawsuit, the board issued a statement to Westwood parents last month, saying it was “aware of the situation and is taking these allegations very seriously.” It also said an internal investigation has been launched.

“Rest assured, every concern raised will receive the attention it deserves, and we will take appropriate action whenever deemed necessary,” the statement said, adding that so far, their investigation has revealed that “no picture or print of student work of art was sold as the purchasing feature was disabled. Considering that our investigation is ongoing, it would be premature to come to any conclusion.” 

In a statement to The 1019 Report, school board spokesman Darren Becker earlier this week said: “The school board does not comment on internal investigations or human resources issues, and the matter is now before the courts, so we do not have any comment.”

The case has attracted immediate and widespread media attention, with stories appearing in newspapers in the United States, England, Australia and China.

“A Canadian teacher is under fire for allegedly using his personal website to sell nearly 100 pieces of art created by students, prompting disbelief and anger from parents,” the U.K.-based Guardian newspaper reported recently.

“Teacher Secretly Sold His Students’ Art on Mugs and Shirts, Lawsuit Says” was the headline in the New York Times last week, while the Washington Post reported: “Teacher sued over accusations he tried to sell junior high students’ art.”

The Australian, Australia’s only national newspaper reported: “Teacher accused of selling students’ artwork for his own gain.”