Allegations against aide

Photo / Herald on Sunday

A teacher's aide accused of inappropriate behaviour with school girls says he will never return to class again.

The man, who is past retirement age, is shattered by the allegations which he says he is innocent of.

He has resigned from the upper North Island school.

But the father of the 12-year-old involved says he will lay a complaint with the police when the school completes its inquiries.

The girl says the teacher's aide used a metal file to lift up her skirt two weeks ago during a metalwork class.

The incident comes about a year after a group of girls at the school claimed he had also behaved inappropriately.

The principal said he could not discuss the matter with the Herald on Sunday.

A statutory manager who is overseeing the school did not return calls either.

The father said his daughter "froze" during the incident, which was witnessed by another girl who yelled at the teacher aide. She reported the incident to her form teacher and three girls have since made statements to the principal.

The aide had been removed from classroom duties a day later.

He told the Herald on Sunday he was "absolutely shocked" by the accusation.

"I've never done anything like that in my life," he said.

He said he had apologised to the principal last year after allegations were made against him by a group of girls.

"I was sitting with them" and "touching the odd one with my hand only or bumping their shoulder", he said.

He was surprised by the allegations of inappropriate conduct.

He had been warned that he needed to have another staff member with him in class at all times.

The latest allegation left him feeling unable to return to the school and he had resigned of his own accord.

"I'm not putting my foot in the school gate again," he said.


rachel.grunwell@hos.co.nz