A Catholic drama teacher has been accused of serious misconduct after refusing to remove the word "bejesus" from a play, according to The Age newspaper. The teacher appeared at former hearing at the Victorian Institute of Teaching where the panel heard the teacher's formal colleagues describe his behaviour as belligerent, unreasonable and narcissistic. The panel also heard the teacher had a heated email exchange with a parent who raised concerns about the word "bejesus" in the play. The teacher also allegedly described another staff member in an email as an "evil human being" and told him to "go to hell".
Banned SA teacher has school tutor franchise closed
The Adelaide Advertiser has reported that a former teacher sacked for "improper conduct" with a 12-year-old student has had his private tutoring franchise in Victor Harbor closed. The tutoring business taught “literacy and numeracy” to dozens of children, the paper said. Kip McGrath Education Centres Australia, which cancelled the franchise after the ex-teacher was exposed on Nine News, said: “A police check ... at the time he applied to operate the Victor Harbor franchise more than five years ago revealed no criminal wrongdoing." However, he was not flagged by the “working with children” database according to the paper.
OSHC worker sacked over child pornography
The Advertiser has reported that an after-school care worker at an unnamed Adelaide private school has been sacked after being charged with possessing child pornography. The principal of the school, which cannot be identified, told paper that the man, 20, had been “immediately dismissed’’ last week and a letter explaining the reason was sent to parents. The man was employed by Camp Australia, which said he had the required police clearances and was never alone with children. “This person was never left unsupervised with children and there is no suggestion of inappropriate behaviour at work,’’ she said.
Qld independent school enrolment growth slows
The Courier Mail has reported that independent schools in Queensland have posted their slowest student growth rate in more than a decade. Citing preliminary February census data, the paper reported that state schools had reported a 1.8% lift in enrolments for 2014, while independent schools saw their enrolments grow 1.4%. This was the lowest growth rate for independent schools since 2002.
Independent school expels students over cannabis-related incident
Up to eight students from a Sydney’s Trinity Grammar School were asked to leave the school late last year following an incident involving cannabis on school grounds, according to the Sydney Morning Herald. "The matter was reported to police and a record made, however, there was insufficient evidence to warrant a continuing investigation,” a NSW Police spokesman said.