Previous complaints at tape row school

Mercury Bay Area School in Whitianga. Photo / Alan Gibson

UPDATE (July 11, 2012): The Complaints Assessment Committee of the Teachers Council has investigated the alleged mouths-taped incident and are satisfied that this did not take place. The allegations are inaccurate. The Committee said further that they are of the view that Pat Doube is an exceptional teacher.

A former chairman of an embattled Coromandel school's Parent Teachers Association says he hopes an investigation into a teacher who allegedly taped pupils' mouths shut will bring about positive changes at the school.

David Harvey said the Mercury Bay Area School PTA committee he heard several other unrelated complaints about the school, before the allegations surfaced that teacher Pat Doube taped shut the mouths of two 7-year-olds on August 12 because they were talking too much.

Mr Harvey, who chaired the PTA between 2003 and 2008, said he eventually asked the Ministry of Education appoint a limited statutory manager.

"I identified a number of areas [at the school] that should have been addressed that didn't seem to have been.

"This is certainly not the first [complaint]. There have been others, not necessarily about Mrs Doube, but there have been other sorts of cases previously."

He hoped the latest case, which principal John Wright said would be "fully and urgently investigated", would have results.

"At the end of the day, some people can afford to remove their children from school and others can't.

"You've got to stand up for somebody somewhere and you don't have to be subjected to that sort of behaviour. It's not acceptable," Mr Harvey said.

Despite the allegations against the Year Three teacher, she remained at school yesterday.

Mr Wright has refused to respond to questions as to why Mrs Doube has not been stood down or what the investigation had involved because it was an employment issue.

He did not return phone calls yesterday and refused to comment when approached outside the school.

Mrs Doube was not home when the Herald visited yesterday afternoon, and neither Board of Trustees chair Erin Kropidlowski nor deputy chair Herb Herbert could be reached for comment.

One parent told the Herald yesterday that parents in the school community had long had concerns about Mrs Doube.

Another parent, John Calder, said he would now not be allowing his young daughters to be taught by Mrs Doube.

"On and off over the years, we've heard things about her."

Labour education spokeswoman Sue Maroney said some parents had complained to her office about the school and the party's electorate candidate would be meeting with them to hear their concerns.

The school is still being investigated by a limited statutory manager, despite the fact that all 18 complaints made about the way the school was being run have been dismissed.

Ministry of Education regional manager Chris Day said the manager was appointed to investigate "specific complaints and to establish a complaints procedure".