In its Media Release today, the highly respected registered charity Family First NZ has welcomed the decision by the New Zealand Teacher’s Council to deregister a female primary school teacher for her “serious misconduct” – involving her work as a porn magazine model (See 35 page decision The Complaints Assessment Committee v Rachel Kellie Whitwell. NZTDT 2011/7).
The Teachers Disciplinary Tribunal ruled that the defendent, aged 29, must meet the CAC’s actual and reasonable cost associated with the disciplinary proceeding and pay half the Tribunal’s costs.
“Teachers have a special status as leaders and should be respected – especially by our children,” says Bob McCoskrie, National Director of Family First NZ.
“Modeling and selling naked photos to a pornographic magazine doesn’t meet that standard. Associating the photos with her profession of teaching children is also unacceptable.
“These sexually explicit photos of the teacher have been published and are now in the public domain. The combined role of porn star and primary school teacher simply doesn’t fit for many families. Parents would be just as concerned if a teacher was coming to school topless or teaching that pornographic magazines are harmless.
“There is a strong social stigma against pornography, and pornographic magazines such as Penthouse – for good reason. The welfare, protection and moral innocence of our children must come first.
“The issue is not whether it’s legal or not. As part of earning the respect that they deserve, they need to be aware that their personal principles and profession can not necessarily be separated,” says Mr McCoskrie.
“To pose for a porn magazine simply lets the side down.”
ENDS
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