Stabbed teacher eager to return to duty

Just a day after being knifed by one of his students, Avondale College teacher Dave Warren has vowed to return to teaching.

Mr Warren was to be released from Auckland City Hospital yesterday after being treated for a stab wound in his shoulder - allegedly inflicted by 17-year-old Korean exchange student Tae Won Chung on Tuesday.

Principal Brent Lewis told the Herald Mr Warren sounded "subdued" when he spoke with him by telephone yesterday morning, but had said the attack had not put him off teaching.

"It hasn't changed his very positive feelings about the school and the students.

"He's talking about coming back. He's made it very clear he's coming back but I'm certainly putting no pressure on him to when that will be. I want him to be happy and healthy and in a positive frame of mind and that's a call he'll make."

Mr Lewis said Mr Warren had been "revictimised" by students' claims that the attack could have been retaliation for a racial remark.

"It's pretty brutal really," Mr Lewis said.

Auckland City police spokeswoman Noreen Hegarty confirmed last night that there was nothing to indicate racism was a reason for the attack, while another officer described the claims as "a wee bit far-fetched".