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A teacher has quit his job after he was dragged along by a car as he tried to speak to students playing truant.
Police in Northland are investigating the incident, in which one of the truants grabbed the teacher and held him by the shirt as the car drove off, forcing him to run alongside it to avoid being caught under the wheels.
The teacher, from Kaitaia College, was not hurt but has since resigned.
It is understood the man, who taught science, had crossed the road to recover a ball from the yard of a neighbouring house. A group of senior students, who had spent the day drinking at the house, were leaving in a car as the teacher arrived.
A police spokesman said the teacher approached the moving car and gestured for it to stop.
The car kept moving and as it approached the teacher, a front-seat passenger grabbed him by the shirt and held on to him while the vehicle went about 4m up the road.
Kaitaia College principal William Tailby said the five students in the car were suspended.
They had all since gone before the board of trustees and would return to the school under a range of conditions.
Mr Tailby said there had been a lot of "wild rumours" in the community about what had happened but most were "totally exaggerated".
"The staff are deeply upset because they have lost a staff member as a result of this."
It is understood that the popular science teacher had threatened to leave if he was ever assaulted.
Senior Sergeant Gordon Gunn of Kaitaia police confirmed the matter was being investigated following a complaint from the teacher.
Another police officer said it appeared the student driving the car might not have seen what was happening, as he was looking to the right when the teacher was grabbed.
Police are also investigating the students' drinking at the house next to the college. Charges of supplying a minor are possible.
Principals Federation president Judy Hanna said teachers needed to be safe at school. "I'm just appalled that this could have happened, that the kids didn't seem to care."
Northern Community Board member Colin Kitchen said it was "bad publicity for us as a community".
Secondary Principals' Council chairman Arthur Graves said: "This is horrific. It really undermines the whole essence of teaching."
- additional reporting: Alanah May Eriksen
