School camp row: teacher lets mother into her bedroom

A mother who was helping at a school camp has alleged that a teacher made unwanted sexual advances to her in her room at night.

The teacher has admitted that he let the mother into his room and allowed her to lie on his bed while she was alone in the room with him.

But the Teacher Disciplinary Court has dismissed a charge of gross misconduct against the teacher because there was no evidence that the alleged sexual advances occurred.

The names of the teacher, the mother and the Year 7 to 13 school where the teacher worked have been deleted.

An agreed statement of fact says the teacher was one of two teachers in charge of a school camp for Year 7 students at the university in February of last year.

“The night of February 12, 2019, [the teacher] He told parents at camp to come wake him up if there were any concerns or problems with the students, “the agreed statement reads.

“That night and in the early hours of the morning of February 13, [the mother] she was awakened by students and other mothers with whom she shared a room.

“In the early hours of the morning of February 13, frustrated at not being able to sleep well, [the mother] I went to [the teacher’s] space to share your concerns.

“[The teacher] permitted [the mother] in his room after she knocked on his door and woke him up. [The mother] initially sat on a chair in the room, but eventually lay down on [the teacher’s] bed at your suggestion. According to [the teacher], when [the mother] he lay down on his bed, he was not lying on the bed, he was sitting on the corner of the bed.

“[The mother] Later he went to get his sleeping bag and pillow from his room. On her return,. [the teacher] permitted [the mother] go back into the room and lie back down on your bed.

“After a short period, [the mother] left the room. Shortly after leaving the room, [the mother] informed two other parents at camp that something had happened with [the teacher], and presented as distraught and upset. “

The mother and another father reported the incident that same day to the head of the university.

“[The mother] alleged that sexual misconduct had occurred between her and [the teacher] in [the teacher’s] room.”

About 12 days later, the mother filed a complaint with the police about the incident. The police “considered that there was insufficient evidence of any criminal conduct and that a police investigation was not required.”

The teacher told investigators at the Teachers’ Disciplinary Tribunal that the mother had made a “barrage” of requests and complaints to the university of a “strange” and “unusual” nature before the school camp.

He said: “When we were in the camp, it was clear that [the mother] It wasn’t going to be of much help and it was quickly becoming a burden. (I have … some major concerns about her mental health.)

“I said to [the mother], ‘If you have a problem, come see me.’ The incident is included in my report to the director.

“I certainly did not do what she claimed, but unfortunately I have made myself vulnerable to accusations by letting her into my room and trying to help her. My main concern with letting her into my room was to prevent her from disturbing and overwhelming the rest of the staff. And parents…

“I am personally upset that she was put in this position and I deeply regret letting her into the bedroom. This is behavior I would never do again and I certainly learned a lesson.

“Unfortunately and something frustrating for me is that [the mother] there is effectively no consequence for making up this story. I can’t understand why he did this and what he could gain from it. “

The president of the court, Theo Baker, considered the teacher’s conduct to be “silly and inappropriate” but that it did not amount to a serious offense because sexual advances had not been proven.

“It misrepresents your judgment, but not necessarily your aptitude to be a teacher,” the court said.

“We do not condone a teacher allowing a parent to enter their room on a school trip and we do not think it is very professional, but we are not prepared to enforce any of the
orders under s 404 [of the Education Act]. “