Benson-Pope bruised, angry and getting on with the job

David Benson-Pope

During a miserable week in Parliament, David Benson-Pope saw his 24-year career as a teacher pulled apart.

He was called a pervert, a bully and a liar. His values were questioned and he was accused of abusing students.

He's feeling bruised, battered -- and very angry.

"I guess that if you make a mistake in terms of ministerial responsibility around a portfolio, or policy...if you get it wrong you expect grief," he said yesterday.

"But I don't think anyone should have to put up with the filthy, despicable behaviour we saw yesterday (Wednesday).

"The hardest thing for me has been that I spent 24 years teaching, trying to help young people, and I think with some success. To be accused of being violent and bullying is pretty unpleasant."

Mr Benson-Pope said he had a lot of disciplinary roles, particularly when he was a dean and picked up problems from other teachers.

"I did use corporal punishment for a little while. There was always a witness -- and one told the policy inquiry (into the tennis ball incident) how distasteful I found it. I was actually one of the people who got rid of it."

It's the accusations of violence and ill-treatment that seem to have hurt him the most.

"I guess that's why I'm bruised and cut up. I'm seriously angry about what went down, because the accusations that (Judith) Collins and (Rodney) Hide have been making are so contrary to the bulk of the work I did in the classroom, and the work I did in the outdoors."

The Minister of Social Development has been under the gun because in May last year he told Parliament no complaint had ever been laid against him when he was a teacher.

Now it has been proved complaints were laid, but he says they were not formal and did not lead to disciplinary proceedings.

"When I made that comment it was an afterthought -- and one which I regret," he said.

"In hindsight I acknowledge that a student or a parent saying 'you told my son to shave, how dare you' is a complaint.

"But for me it's the day to day business. Every day there would be kids or staff raising an issue.

"So I made a call in my mind. It wasn't a wise one, historically."

But the complaints weren't just about shaving. One involved a claim he went into a shower block and a dormitory where 14-year-old girls were showering and dressing.

What really happened that day in the Catlins, on a freezing morning at a school camp?

"Having hot water there is really important. It would be a normal event for any staff member to open the door and say 'get out of there, you've had your time'," he said.

"The showers are completely hidden from the door by the shower block geometry. I'm sorry to disappoint the vicarious but I didn't see anything. If I had it would have been extremely embarrassing -- and I would remember it.

The shower block allegations have got under his skin.

"There is no issue. And that's been the most offensive part of what National has done -- deliberately pretending something happened that they know is not true.

"I was a professional teacher for nearly a quarter of a century...and they're promoting this as an event that actually happened."

Mr Benson-Pope said he stood by his record.

"I don't think I've ever mistreated a student, or treated a student unfairly.

"There will be students who disagree with that, but every specific one we have, when we unpick it, it is either equivocal or not valid.

"There never has been, as far as I can ascertain, any issue that's been raised with me by the school board. Certainly, nothing has led to a disciplinary procedure."

As for the future, he still thinks being an MP is a good life and being a minister is even better.

"I'm bloody tired, but I've got a heap of work to do and I'm going to do it."

- NZPA