It is interesting to note that the school's Board of Trustees must have some level of responsibility for any failures but it seems that Mr Hovell has to shoulder any blame that may lie there.
It is obvious that the school does need to move on and not be captured by the past and the relieving principal is seeming to do this very well.
The whole situation of the summary dismissal of a principal because of the criminality of a staff member who has been engaged in illegal behaviour outside of the school gate, creates a precedent which needs to be challenged.
Is a senior sergeant of police going to be dismissed for a similar misdemeanour of a junior police officer on his staff?
Is a hospital manager going to lose the position because of inappropriate behaviour of a nurse?
Those scenarios would never happen but a parallel case in a school has resulted in the dismissal of a principal.
Arguments that the school needs a fresh start is no basis for the dismissal.
No doubt there are many schools which could do with a fresh start but their principals will not be summarily dismissed.
Other school principals should be concerned that this dismissal could be a precendent with tragic outcomes for careers and education.
In no way do I support the reprehensible behaviour of James Parker, but I can understand how he was able to manipulate the Education Review Office, the Board of Trustees and his principal into believing that there was no concern.
It seems that he also was able to manage his earlier accusers and even divert the police.
It is therefore important to remember that there is one criminal in this matter, not two.
ROBIN SHEPHERD
Rangitihi
