Teachers union calls for end to Benson-Pope 'witch hunt'

The secondary teachers union has called on MPs to end their "witch hunt" over allegations about Social Development Minister David Benson Pope.

Mr Benson-Pope has faced a barrage of bruising accusations in Parliament over the past week, with opposition MPs calling him a pervert, a bully and a liar, over claims he acted inappropriately as a teacher.

But Post Primary Teachers Association president Debbie Te Whaiti today said it was time for MPs to end their attacks, which were placing teachers and students at Mr Benson-Pope's old school, Bayfield High, under pressure.

Staff and students had been hounded by reporters and the school had received more than 400 media inquiries.

The school had also had to remove a photographer from the premises.

"The staff and students are upset by it all and student learning is likely to be negatively affected."

Mrs Te Whaiti said every teacher in the country was also likely to be affected by the "feeding frenzy and abuse" seen in Parliament.

"How is it that politicians can be so keen to ensure teachers behave yet behave so abusively towards each other?

"There'll be no winners if the witch hunt extends to other former teachers in the House."

She called on MPs to focus on important issues facing the education sector, such as as teacher workload and shortages.

- NZPA