Gapuwiyak School in Arnem Land: Stephen Ferguson, teachers' union representative, asks the school principal to stop pestering the teachers for money. The principal threatens to spear him and burn his house down.
At Gapuwiyak School in Arnem Land teacher Stephen Ferguson, 41, complained about the school principal "borrowing" money from staff.
The principal, Shirley Nirrpurranydji, who was considered one of the "star" figures in Territory education, said she would spear Stephen Ferguson and burn down his house.
A Teachers' Registration Board investigation found the allegations were true - but the Education Department didn't sack her.
Ms Nirrpurranydji, 56, was told not to do it again.
Mr Ferguson, who now works on the Tiwi Islands, said the Education Department had turned on him because he had the courage to make a legitimate complaint.
"I was the teachers' union representative and a whistleblower, " he said.
Staff were upset at being pestered for money. The loans weren't really loans - the money was never paid back.
This is extraordinary. A school principal threatens to kill one of her staff and nothing is done about it until I go to the police.
Mr Ferguson said he took the threat "very seriously" but was transferred to another school only after calling Education Department head Gary Barnes' office.
Ms Nirrpurrandydji no longer works as a teacher.
Spear threat to NT teacher, Nigel Adlam, NT News, 24 January 2012: http://www.ntnews.com.au/article/2012/01/24/285031_ntnews.html Historical link preserved from the original page.
Workplace bullying and assaults are swept under the carpet in Northern Territory schools.
Well done Mr Ferguson.
But don't expect the department or the union to do anything.
Like you my school had a very lumpy carpet where they kept sweeping bullying and assaults under the carpet.
Move on and hope the b-st-rds don't follow.