- School teachers on sex prowl
- By Bruce McDougall and Kelvin Bissett
- The Herald Sun
- 10/11/2008 Make a Comment
- Contributed by: The Rooster ( 264 articles in 2008 )
SCHOOL teachers are being accused of sexually assaulting students or entering inappropriate sexual relationships with them at a rate of almost one a week in New South Wales.
Sexual allegations have been made against teachers 86 times over the last 2 1/2 years - about a quarter of them in government primary schools, The Daily Telegraph can reveal.
But the data obtained under Freedom of Information also suggests some teachers are being unfairly targeted by unfounded accusations and facing career damage as a result.
Just three teachers in the period were convicted of criminal charges and one has been jailed.
In another 10 cases teachers either resigned or retired, were put through "remedial action" or had their casual teaching authority withdrawn because some truth was found in the claims against them.
In dozens of other cases no evidence of misconduct could be found.
There are allegations against 11 teachers in public schools this year involving sexual misconduct, inappropriate touching of students and sexual relationships referred to investigators without an outcome yet.
Despite not all claims being proven, Ombudsman Bruce Barbour has warned about potential paedophiles operating in schools and the widespread "grooming" of young people for intimate relationships.
One teacher was accused of intimidating, stalking and indecently assaulting female students, accessing pornography on a work computer and making sexually inappropriate comments about females.
A high school teacher had a sexual relationship with a 12-year-old student over three years and was preparing other young students for sexual abuse.
The teacher was placed on "alternative duties" but Mr Barbour said there was evidence he may have been grooming other children over the internet.
Judy Shackle, whose 15-year-old daughter Nicki entered a relationship with former English department head Jeff Sinclair in 2001, said yesterday greater protection was needed for children.
Sexual allegations have been made against teachers 86 times over the last 2 1/2 years - about a quarter of them in government primary schools, The Daily Telegraph can reveal.
But the data obtained under Freedom of Information also suggests some teachers are being unfairly targeted by unfounded accusations and facing career damage as a result.
Just three teachers in the period were convicted of criminal charges and one has been jailed.
In another 10 cases teachers either resigned or retired, were put through "remedial action" or had their casual teaching authority withdrawn because some truth was found in the claims against them.
In dozens of other cases no evidence of misconduct could be found.
There are allegations against 11 teachers in public schools this year involving sexual misconduct, inappropriate touching of students and sexual relationships referred to investigators without an outcome yet.
Despite not all claims being proven, Ombudsman Bruce Barbour has warned about potential paedophiles operating in schools and the widespread "grooming" of young people for intimate relationships.
One teacher was accused of intimidating, stalking and indecently assaulting female students, accessing pornography on a work computer and making sexually inappropriate comments about females.
A high school teacher had a sexual relationship with a 12-year-old student over three years and was preparing other young students for sexual abuse.
The teacher was placed on "alternative duties" but Mr Barbour said there was evidence he may have been grooming other children over the internet.
Judy Shackle, whose 15-year-old daughter Nicki entered a relationship with former English department head Jeff Sinclair in 2001, said yesterday greater protection was needed for children.
Source: https://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/story/0,21985,24625712-662,00.html
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