Premium debate: Teachers face losing jobs over vaccination status

Brunswick principal Jane Corcoran said the timing of the mandate couldn't be worse, and wondered why it couldn't have been addressed after the school year. Photo / Logan Tutty

A leading Whanganui school principal says more than half of schools in the city will have at least one staff member unvaccinated and face losing their job.

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Seems these teachers lack critical thinking skills and a sense of care for others. Pat Newman, principal of Hora Hora School in Northland, was quoted the other day as saying "... everybody should have got the vaccine because freedom does not come free - it has a price tag and that is your social and moral responsibility towards the community."
Clear and simple and so true.
- Potter O

A dramatic heading, not backed up by the article that follows. Most Whanganui school principals are just getting on with it. As they should. Teachers have had plenty of notice, and it defies belief that this principal complains about the workload and the timing. Leave it until next year? Really? Does she think Covid will be on holiday too?
I wouldn't be at all surprised if a few teachers, having had their bluff called, are rolling their sleeves up this weekend.
Those who remain staunch might like to ask themselves when it was that they forgot why they are in this profession.
- Alfred T

Second article I've read about how hard it is going to be on principals to manage staffing etc. You would think they would be cross at the teachers who are abandoning their classes and putting themselves before the children they teach, rather than moaning about the admin issues, and unfortunately, the virus doesn't care if it is term 4, and will be knocking on everyone's unvaccinated doors in the next few weeks. I really think these teachers thought the Government would backtrack because they were so indispensable.
- Helyn H

Logic implies that vaccination will prolong life and reduce deaths when vaccinated. Covid vaccinations are common sense as were tetanus, polio, whooping cough and many more before. Teachers should lead by example, get vaccinated and be advocates for vaccination to their students and communities. This is student/community safety working both ways.
If this logic is not acceptable, then much-harder truths await the unvaccinated and imposed by government but more importantly, by the virus itself. Get vaccinated folks!
- Paul B

If these teachers reject science and critical thinking they shouldn't be teaching our children. They care little for their students who can't be vaccinated yet.
- Heather T

Teachers are expected to lead the way in preparing children for life in society, so how can they possibly be employed if they don't have the skill to teach that? There is no logic in refusing vaccination except twisted and in real thinking. As has been said, those are in the wrong job.
- Steve R

I am surprised some principals have come out disappointed they don't have the choice with staff mandates. The people I know in education, including my niece who is deputy principal at a school, were pleased the Government mandated vaccination. Because otherwise they were going to have to handle it. And it was already causing turmoil for principals and boards of trustees. As for how many will be lost. Evidence from overseas suggests less rather than more than expected. In New York, opposition groups said the police force would lose as many as 10,000 cops. In the end only 35 left their jobs.
- Ross W

Left the mandate until after the end of the school year? Has the principal seen the slow but increasing seep of infection across the North Island? Covid isn't waiting until the end of the school year!
- Susan S

If you think freedom of choice is more important than your job, but of even more significance, more important than providing your students and work colleagues with greater protections during a pandemic, then you are in the wrong job.
Do not expect much sympathy, let alone understanding.
- Kevin S

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