Teacher still faces threat

Press, 5 July 1986, Page 8

Teacher still faces threat

Warwick Taylor, the Canterbury representative rugby player and former All Black, will have the threat of dismissal from his teaching job hanging over him for a few months yet.

The fate of his career passed yesterday from the hands of the DirectorGeneral of Education, Mr Bill Renwick, to a Teachers Disciplinary .Board.

Taylor, who played in the Cavaliers rugby team in South Africa, was charged with being absent without leave from his job as a physical education

teacher at Burnside High School, one of the biggest schools in New Zealand. The school board referred a charge to Mr Renwick under the Secondary and Technical Institute Teachers Disciplinary Regulations, 1969. Mr Renwick could have referred the charge back to the school board, decided that no further action should be taken, or referred it to the disciplinary board. -He chose the disciplinary board. The board has three members: a chairman who is a barrister or solicitor of not less than

seven years standing, appointed by the Minister of Education, a member appointed by the Post-Prim-ary Teachers’ Association, and a representative of the Secondary Boards’ Association. r Mr Renwick said that the dateand 'place of the hearing * were for the* Teachers Disciplinary Board to decide. Briefing counsel" would take’time and, -with the usual ' difficulties of “finding time in the diaries of busy people,” the board might not be able to convene for two or three months, he said.

If the Teachers Disciplinary Board finds the charge has been proved, one of four penalties could be imposed. Mr Taylor could be cautioned, reprimanded or censured, or up to $2OO - could be deducted from his salary. . The disicplinary board could, direct his transfer to another position bn the same or a lesser salary, dismiss, him, or,, require him to resign within' a specified time. <•' Mr Taylor could appeal against the finding, the

penalty, or both. ’.? Appeals are heard; by a Teachers Court of Appeal, made up of a District Court judge, appointed by the Minister, and • two others one nominated by the Post-Primary Teachers’ Association,and one by the Teachers’ pis- , clplinary , Board. The decision of , the Court is-final pn<£ Taylor, who 'is still teaching physical, education at Burnside? High School, said last evening that he had heard of Mr Renwick’s ,decisidn •- but had no comment to make.