uptightoutasight, Reader's Comment, The reality of teaching 'in the trenches', Lachie Gaylard, The Drum, ABC, 25 January 2012: http://www.abc.net.au/unleashed/3790748.html Historical link preserved from the original page.
A NSW student threatened to make a false allegation against his teacher. The teacher demanded an apology - and was dismissed for misconduct!
On November 9, 2009, a 26-year-veteran teacher was filling in for an absent teacher in classes at the Western Sydney Institute of TAFE.
The class included high school students, including the then 17-year-old Andrew Olson.
Andrew Olson was allegedly late, disruptive, accused another student of smoking drugs and repeatedly pulled his pants down.
Mr Pace told the students that he would be contacting some of the principals of the high school students about their behaviour.
Mr Olson reportedly responded: "If you ring my principal I will state that you had... (allegation). "
The teacher then rang Mr Olson's mother Liz twice on two separate days demanding the teenager apologise.
Liz Olson described the phone calls as "disturbing" - and the teacher was later dismissed for misconduct.
The industrial court has ordered that the teacher be reinstated after finding he was unfairly dismissed.
The teacher's solicitor Ian Collins, who specialises in teachers' cases, said he had recently handled 10 similar incidents, all involving false allegations against teachers - with the most common being claims of s_xual misconduct.
All they need is some kid for whatever reason to make a false allegation or a silly allegation and the Education Department goes into full investigation phase and they run it like a full inquisition, " Mr Collins said.
Teacher a victim of false sex claim, Joe Hildebrand, The Daily Telegraph, 7 November 2011: http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/news/teacher-a-victim-of-false-sex-claim/story-e6freuy9-1226187069552 Historical link preserved from the original page.
Classroom teacher says: Some students know they can do whatever they like and mummy and daddy will go straight to the principal to complain if they are disciplined in any way. And the principal will back them up.
As a teacher of 10 year olds, most of them are lovely but there are some who are brought up in homes where they've been taught that it's OK to yell, argue about everything, throw things and fight whenever the slightest thing doesn't go their way.
I've had kids throw things at me and what happens?
They get to colour in pretty pictures in the principal's office and come back to class with a 'Happy Note' which is supposed to make us all feel better again.
They know they can do whatever they like, get out of making any effort in class, disrupt the other students, backchat all day long and mummy and daddy will go straight to the principal to complain if they are disciplined in any way at all - and the principal will back them up.
Teachers are stuck in an impossible situation when they are undermined from all directions it is no wonder that burnout is on the rise.
I spend all of my 'holidays' preparing creative programmes, marking and catching up on the myriad of paperwork, (ask any partner of a teacher) and am constantly preoccupied with the welfare of the students.
I care deeply but I am despairing that the quality of our schools is being hijacked by the lowest common denominator.