KEY POINTS:
A teacher who had a sexual relationship with a 16-year-old student has lost his right to teach, but any future bid to return to the profession should be viewed "sympathetically", a disciplinary body says.
The comment from the Teachers Disciplinary Tribunal has surprised some in education circles who
question whether such a person should be allowed back.
"I would imagine most principals throughout the country would probably be ... uncomfortable with employing a person who had found themselves in that situation in their past," said the vice-president of the Secondary Principals Association, Paul Daley.
Robin Duff, president of the Post Primary Teachers Association, said the safety of students was paramount, but it was also important a "lifetime seal" was not put on anybody seeking a fresh start.
The 24-year-old drama teacher, whose name and the school he taught at cannot be revealed, admitted his actions when he came before the tribunal, and remains in a relationship with the female student.
In 2006, he met the student through the school "stage challenge", and also helped her with revision for her exams.
In February 2007, the pair began exchanging text messages, which were initially professional but later became personal, and a "mutual attraction" became evident.
They spent a night together in a hotel after the student lied about her whereabouts to her parents.
The relationship came to light when other students spoke about it to another staff member at the school. The teacher went on sick leave before being confronted, and then resigned.
In a personal statement, the teacher told the tribunal the relationship was not something he planned.
He had sought to be voluntarily taken off the teachers' register, but this had been rejected by the New Zealand Teachers Council. It was his hope to eventually return to teaching.
Nicole Carter, representing the teacher, said it had to be considered that he genuinely cared about the student, did not cause her any harm, and it was "extremely unlikely" he would do anything like this again.
The tribunal ordered the cancellation of the teacher's registration.
It said it was not its role to direct how the Teachers Council should deal with any bid by the teacher to re-register, but would expect an application after a period of three years "to be viewed sympathethically".
Mr Duff said the Teachers Council was the right forum to consider all the issues surrounding possible reinstatement to the profession, and then monitoring or support mechanisms could be put in place.
Children's Commissioner Cindy Kiro said it was never appropriate for a person in a position of power, such as a teacher, doctor or counsellor, to enter a sexual relationship with a person they were dealing with professionally, "particularly if that person is as young as, say, 16".
