Bosses get new complaints about teacher

A teacher who was stabbed in the back by a foreign student over "culturally insensitive" comments is the subject of further complaints to school bosses.

Avondale College employee Dave Warren needed weeks of hospital treatment after being attacked by 17-year-old South Korean student Tae Won Chung on March 3.

The incident came the day after Warren made comments in a Japanese class that played on Chung's fear of conscription if he returned to his homeland.

Chung was last month sentenced to 18 months in jail and ordered to pay $10,000 in reparations after earlier pleading guilty to stabbing Warren with intent to cause grievous bodily harm.

Warren is back at work, but the Herald on Sunday understands he has been the subject of complaints from at least two other students over unrelated incidents.

Warren rejected requests for comment and Avondale College principal Brent Lewis refused to comment on specific questions about the number and nature of the new complaints.

"It is inappropriate to discuss what's happening with any staff member at my school."

Warren is a member of the Post Primary Teachers Association. Deputy general secretary Colin Moore said the union would not comment on individual cases for reasons of confidentiality.

"But if anyone encounters difficulties in the workplace we will represent them to ensure that procedural fairness takes place."

During Chung's sentencing, Auckland District Court heard the stabbing was caused by comments made by Warren on March 2.

Chung had dozed off and Warren woke him with the warning that he'd "be dead" if he slept while the North Korean army attacked.

Warren had earlier spoken to Chung about South Korea's military training and how he would be conscripted if he returned home.

He was anxious about going into the army and his homeland's volatile relationship with North Korea.

Chung's lawyer David Jones QC, told the court the comments were "culturally insensitive" and "the catalyst for what happened the following day", but accepted his client's reaction was unjustified.

With sentencing out of the way, Avondale College is thought to be considering an official investigation into Warren's conduct.

The school applied to the Court to view statements by Warren, Chung and witnesses and Warren's witness impact statement.

Warren successfully opposed the disclosure of his victim impact statement to the school and media organisations including the Herald on Sunday.

Education law specialist Patrick Walsh said it would be routine for a school to investigate fully such a serious incident after a court case.

There was no excuse for stabbing anyone, but the school would probably ask whether any fault lay with the teacher.

The school could be obligated to provide counselling, professional development and support, said Walsh, but Warren could face disciplinary action if found to have committed serious misconduct.

- ADDITIONAL REPORTING: NZ HERALD