No action on principal's Hitler comparison

Education Minister Anne Tolley. Photo / Sarah Ivey

The Teachers Council will take no further action over an Invercargill school principal who compared Education Minister Anne Tolley to Hitler, saying she is entitled to hold her opinion.

Salford School principal Marlene Campbell made the comparison on her Facebook page last year in response to the introduction of national standards, which the school was boycotting at the time.

The November 5 post read: "And the MOE (Ministry of Education) attack schools deferring setting targets, thats a constructive response? Excuse me Minister Hitler? Am I in Germany? Is this the end of self managing schools? read Kelvin Smythes latest blog, he is a true hero!"

The post was picked up by bloggers and sparked a complaint to the Teachers Council from Lower Hutt City councillor Max Shierlaw, who said the comment brought the teaching profession into disrepute.

The Teachers Council complaints assessment committee said in a letter it would take no further action against Ms Campbell, the Southland Times reported today.

The letter said while the comments were "intemperate", Ms Campbell had acknowledged that and apologised.

Her employer, the board of trustees, had dealt with the matter at the time and had discussed the inappropriateness of the comments with Ms Campbell, the letter said.

Mr Shierlaw, who has been outspoken against schools boycotting national standards, said his reaction to the comments was unchanged but he was unable to take his complaint elsewhere.

"The Employment Court has upheld dismissals brought on by employees putting derogatory comments on Facebook," he said.

Ms Campbell declined to comment to the Southland Times.

- NZPA