Bid to get teacher’s name fails

Press, 10 May 1979, Page 3

Bid to get teacher’s name fails

PA Wellington The Justice Department yesterday declined to name a teacher convicted of growing cannabis, after the Wellington Education Board had called for the man to be named so that it could decide what action to take against him. The teacher’s name was suppressed when he appeared in the Magistrate’s Court at Wellington. The Secretary for Justice (Mr J. F. Robertson) said that suppression of names was a matter for the courts. Justice Department officers would not disclose the name of a person after suppression had been granted. However, the board’s chairman (Mr C. R. Hesketh) said that the board was obliged, under the Education Act, to investigate any case where a teacher was convicted on a charge for which a sentence of more than two years imprisonment could be imposed. The teacher concerned would not necessarily lose his job, but Mr Hesketh said that he did not know of any case where conviction had not led to dismissal.

“Plenty of help is available to any teacher suffering from problems, so that difficulties with the children are avoided. It is the children we are worried about,” he said. “The teacher in this case obviously needs help.” In convicting the man, the Magistrate said that he suffered from a severe psychotic condition and was unable to stop that type of offending. The board has written to the Chief Ombudsman to express its concern, and has asked for advice on whether the Justice Department had the right not to give information.