Teachers face serious misconduct charges

A school laptop was used to access porn, which students later found. Photo/file

A teacher who formed an inappropriate relationship with a 10-year-old student, and another who accessed porn at school and blamed it on his son, are facing serious misconduct charges.

The two separate cases were heard by the Teachers' Disciplinary Tribunal in Wellington today.

In the first case, the complaints assessment committee alleged the female teacher, who has name suppression, formed an "inappropriate relationship" with one of her 10-year-old students.

The notice of charge said she engaged in Instagram messaging of a personal nature with the boy, took him home on two occasions, and brought him treats, including a onesie, a soft toy, food and money.

The teacher also "encouraged the student to form an emotional dependence which undermined his relationship with his mother".

In the second case, the complaints assessment committee said the male Auckland teacher, who also has name suppression, used his school laptop to access pornographic images and failed to prevent students from seeing them.

In October 2015, he accessed pornographic websites a number of times, the notice of charge said.

"He failed to safeguard students from seeing the images, resulting in two Year 8 students who were using the laptop to download photographs into a yearbook on November 4, 2015, seeing images of naked women."

It said the teacher failed to own up to the incident when questioned by the school, and tried to blame it on his son.

The complaints assessment committee argued both cases amounted to serious misconduct.

The tribunal reserved its decisions in both cases.