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Westwood Junior High School in Montreal: Parents “extremely disgusted”

Photo: Google Maps

A teacher in Montreal, Canada, has come under intense criticism for apparently attempting to sell images of his students created in art class on his personal and other commercial websites. Local television station CTV reported that the school had launched an investigation. A school spokesman confirmed this to the online portal “Now Toronto”. The allegations are taken “very seriously.”

According to reports, several children at Westwood Junior High School made the discovery by chance when they came across their art teacher's website through a Google search. Accordingly, a drawing by a twelve-year-old was offered for $151, T-shirts printed with works by him and other students for $55. Coffee cups were available for $41, iPhone cases for $35.

CTV quoted the father of a young girl as saying he was "extremely disgusted." The incident raises several questions. »Does this teacher require certain works to be done in order to sell them? Does he require these types of portraits to be made to suit the market?”

Many of the works on offer bear the name of the respective child and the title “Creepy Portrait” – and show exactly that: skeletons, ghosts or mythical creatures with grim or mischievous facial expressions. So it's as if the aim had been to create a series of images from the outset.

Many works still on offer

Several media outlets reported that the teacher did not respond to requests for comment. Numerous portraits were still offered online on Tuesday evening.

CTV quoted an intellectual property lawyer. Philippe Brouillette told the television station that children, like everyone else, have a moral right to have their name associated with their work. Nobody is allowed to do anything with the work “unless you give them the right to do so.” It is presumably a violation of copyright.

A look at his website suggests that the art teacher probably thinks little of such questions. There he explains his understanding of art in broad terms, so that you notice: The man thinks in completely different categories. Or in his words: “Making art is a refuge from the difficult moments in life.”

Sol