Online student accusations concern

File photo / Herald on Sunday

Students making baseless accusations against their teachers on the Internet can have a serious impact on teachers' reputations, says a group which investigates complaints made against teachers.

Student accusations on social networking sites like Facebook could have a serious impact on a teacher's reputations and credibility, New Zealand Teachers Council director Peter Lind said today.

"Defamatory online attacks against teachers risk damaging their credibility and reputation for the sake of a student joke or personal vendetta," Dr Lind said.

Members of the public should be careful when they came across accusations made online, he said.

"The safety of students is the council's greatest concern, but we must also protect teachers against false claims about inappropriate conduct," he said.

- NZPA