Teachers say online publication of council decisions goes too far

By ALEXIS GRANT

A teacher who was convicted of violence towards an 11-year-old five years ago has been granted an application for registration by the New Zealand Teachers Council.

The man, who was not identified by name in the council's decision posted on its website, was on probation for two years after being convicted overseas in January 2000. He was also convicted of failing to stop after an accident in September 1999.

"Members of the NZ Teachers Council had sympathy for the background to the offending, and were impressed by the frankness and insight shown by the teacher," the September 23 decision reads.

Teachers Council chairwoman Joanna Beresford would not comment on the case, to maintain the privacy of the individual.

"All decisions are made on the basis of the facts pertaining in that particular case," Ms Beresford said.

The specifics of the case decision, as well as other decisions made by the council, are available on the organisation's website.

But teachers unions say the website, which does not provide names of individuals, should not include specific details, particularly those of a graphic nature.

"We don't believe that those details are necessary for transparency purposes," said Phil Smith, president of the Post Primary Teachers' Association. "[They are] unhelpful in terms of retention and recruitment of teachers."

The summary of one decision made in May reads, "He exchanged sexually explicit emails with the students and sent pictures of himself naked. He had sexual intercourse with one of the students". That teacher's registration was cancelled.

Another teacher's registration was cancelled in June because he greeted a student he tutored "straight from the shower, naked", according to the decision.

"The whole profession has actually been denigrated as a result of a few," Mr Smith said.

Ms Beresford said she plans to work with the teachers unions to determine whether the website, which was created last year to decrease secrecy within the organisation, is counterproductive.

"There's clearly a balance to be struck in being open and transparent in our operations and supporting teachers in their jobs," Ms Beresford said.

Trish Grant, manager of advocacy for the Commissioner for Children's office, said the website threatened not only teachers' right to privacy, but also that of child victims.

"The public's right to know has to be upheld, but also the privacy of children's issues need to be maintained."

Ms Grant also expressed concern about the council's latest approval.

"We would be very concerned about whether any teacher who has had a conviction of violence towards a child would be suitable to teach again."

More than 50 of the country's 70,000 teachers have been investigated by the Teachers Council this year for inappropriate behaviour.

Council decisions

* A teacher's registration was cancelled and he was deemed unfit to teach after having sex with a student and sending sexually explicit emails to another.

* A teacher whose registration was cancelled after sexual harassment complaints from an ex-student applied to be reinstated. His application was denied.

New Zealand Teachers Council decisions