Teachers scornful of PM's backing for Benson-Pope

David Benson-Pope asks photographers to move aside as he leaves the House yesterday. Picture / Mark Mitchell

The Education Ministry and the teachers union had clear guidelines banning the type of behaviour exhibited by David Benson-Pope in 1997.

Prime Minister Helen Clark yesterday endorsed the embattled Social Development Minister, saying she was "satisfied that he behaved in accordance with school policy at the time" he was accused of entering girls' showers and dormitories at a school camp.

But teachers and others in the field are surprised by the suggestion the school would not have had a clear policy beforehand.

They say Mr Benson-Pope, head of physical education at the school, should have been aware of ministry and union guidelines then in place.

Post Primary Teachers Union president Debbie Te Whaiti said the union had a clear policy prohibiting such behaviour in place well before 1997.

Mr Benson-Pope was the union's Otago regional representative from the mid-1980s until the early 1990s.

Former Takapuna Grammar board of trustees chairman Graham Prentice, on the board for nine years including in 1997, said, "There were very clear guidelines from the Ministry of Education and from curriculum components within it to say, 'You need to have this area well-managed'."

Asked if it would have been clear in 1997 that a male teacher shouldn't go into a girls' bathroom or dormitory, he said "It's not only clear, it's common sense, particularly (for) a teacher of long-standing, which he would have been at that time."

One Auckland principal, who didn't want to be named, was scathing about the Government's stance and said many teachers felt the same.

"The bottom line is that every teacher knows you don't go into girls' changing areas. You don't go there; you don't do it. It's part of the upbringing of every teacher. It's blowing teachers' minds out there to be honest, that someone needs to be told this or wants to debate it. It has never ever been acceptable ...

"It's just ridiculous to even pretend to debate that the era has something to do with it. If anything, in the old days it was even tougher than today."

Wellington High School Principal Prue Kelly said, "Our policy would be that it would be a same-sex person that would enter a bedroom and a shower block. Our policy has always been that you don't put yourself at risk."

The Education Ministry said it had "education outside the class" guidelines in 1997 but was unable to confirm what they entailed last night, as the policy on the website had since been updated. The ministry has promised to explain today.

National education spokesman Bill English said regardless of whether the school had a policy at the time, parents would not have expected male teachers to do what the minister had done in 1997.

"It's a behaviour unacceptable not just to the profession, but to parents."

It was currently school camp time and the debate was unnerving parents, he said. 

 
A personal statement

David Benson-Pope issued this statement yesterday after he was stopped giving a personal explanation in Parliament:

Yesterday [Monday] I received a copy of two documents from the school. One a complaint and the second what appears to be a draft response.

I have no recollection of ever having seen this letter of complaint.

Last night I spoke with the principal of the time. He told me that he was unsure whether he ever showed me this letter, although he believes he did raise the relevant policy issues with me.

I can confirm that issues around camp policies and procedures were discussed between the principal, myself and others, and changes were made to camp policy.

Yesterday the school indicated that there was no file copy of any communication with parents to indicate that the complaint was progressed, which is consistent with the media reports that suggest that the parents did not receive a formal response to their complaint.

The chairman of the school's board at the time, Dunedin Police Inspector Dave Campbell, and another board member, Dunedin lawyer Maryann Taylor, last night told me that they have no recollection of any complaint about me having been referred to the board, directly or indirectly.

When I answered the question on 12 May 2005, I answered in respect of my knowledge at the time. I remain convinced that my conduct as a teacher was not inappropriate.

I do accept, however, that the concerns of some former students were genuinely held and, to them, I offer an apology for any upset.