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Teacher keeps registration despite agreeing to it…

A teacher has been censured for serious misconduct after he retaliated to the provocation of a student. The teacher called the student ‘depressed’, despite knowing that the student’s depression was confidential information, and verbally abused him in front of the class by calling him a coward. The teacher then shouldered the student through the door as he tried to remove him from the classroom.

The teacher agreed that his registration should be cancelled and this penalty was sought by the prosecution. Despite this, the Teachers Disciplinary Tribunal held that de-registration was not an appropriate penalty in these circumstances as the breach of confidentiality, abusive criticism, and minor assault all took place on one occasion. The Tribunal considered that a censure was all that was required to protect the public and maintain professional standards.