Quebec Teacher Cleared: Lawsuit Dropped Over Allegations of Selling Students’ Art

A Montreal-area school board recently confirmed it is no longer facing a nearly $1.6-million lawsuit regarding a teacher’s unintentional sale of student artwork. In March 2024, ten parents claimed their children’s classroom art was being sold online without their consent, with items priced up to $113 US. The Lester B. Pearson School Board conducted an investigation and concluded that the teacher, Mario Perron, had made an honest mistake during an educational exercise on photo editing.

The board explained that the artwork was posted on Perron’s personal Pixels/Fine Arts America page; however, due to a marketing template being inadvertently activated, the students’ creations were published with price tags that he did not intend. Parents became aware of the situation when some students noticed their artwork listed for sale. The board categorically denied allegations that Perron sought to profit from his students, stating that he never intended to offer their work for sale.

Upon learning of the listings, Perron promptly worked to rectify the issue, ensuring the removal of the art from the sales platform. The parents initially sought $155,000 each in damages and an apology, but have since decided to drop the lawsuit. The board indicated that while a disciplinary action was taken, it respects Perron’s dedication to student learning, opting to keep further details confidential.