'Completely insane': Teacher accused of selling young students' art for over $100 each after kids discover his website

A Canadian teacher has taken down his own website after numerous outlets pointed out that the educator was allegedly selling the artwork of his students without permission.

The teacher, Mario Perron, was reportedly outed by students at Montreal's Westwood junior high after they discovered their teacher had been posting their own art on his website. The art was allegedly available for purchase on mugs, phone cases, and clothing. A parent claimed that a student found the site by simply Googling the teacher's name.

On his now-removed website, the teacher reportedly described himself as a "life-long student of art" and boasted that his works have appeared in private collections in Spain, Italy, and the United States.

More than 90 pieces were visible on the site, which included names like "Julia’s Creepy Portrait" and "Charlotte’s Creepy Portrait," appearing to denote the names of the children who made them.

The artwork pricing was set at $118 each, according to SCNR. He also sold T-shirts for $55, while the mugs and phone cases were listed for $41 and $35, respectively.

"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!? That is completely insane," parent Joel DeBellefeuille posted on X.

"I’m sure I’m not the only parent that wants answers," he added.

"It’s unbelievable that he felt that he had the right to utilize and essentially exploit these children’s rights and their artwork for his own financial satisfaction," DeBellefeuille told CTV News.

Another parent named Michael Bennet allegedly discovered artwork from both of his daughters on the teacher's website.

“I’m extremely disgusted with this person. It’s extremely, you know, it’s unbelievable,” Bennett said. “Is [the teacher] asking for these types of portraits to be done so it meets the market? I’m not quite sure on that aspect. However, I am not impressed at all with this person. I’m not impressed with the school, or the school board. … [My daughters] feel cheated," he added.

The school district has opened in investigation into the matter, with a Lester B. Pearson School Board spokesman telling Law & Crime that the school in question had received a legal notice. The notice was forwarded to the school's insurance company, according to Darren Becker, the board's director of communications.

The teacher did not respond to inquiries from multiple outlets, including the Guardian and CTV News.

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