Why is it that Government and now the courts think it’s appropriate to constantly change our role and responsibilities? Why can’t we do the job we have been doing for centuries without having to take on new unfamiliar duties?
A 14-Year old was acquitted for holding up a service station and stabbing the attendant because the teacher he confided in reported it rather than caution him. Apparently, the teacher had a duty to warn the student about his legal rights. Because the teacher failed to have that discussion, the child got off.
TEACHERS could be forced to warn students as young as 10 about their legal rights before counselling them after a remarkable court decision.
A 14-year-old boy who confessed to his teacher that he robbed a service station and stabbed the attendant with a knife, has been acquitted after the District Court refused to allow the teacher’s statement into evidence because he had not “cautioned” the boy.
It could change the way teachers and students relate to each other, NSW Teachers Federation President Bob Lipscombe said yesterday.
“This is potentially very serious for teachers,” Mr Lipscombe said.
“Teachers are expected to provide advice, assistance and counselling to young people on a daily basis and during the course of that, many things are disclosed to teachers.
“Most are fairly insignificant but often there are matters disclosed that are quite significant and in such cases teachers have never been advised that they can only act on information if they have previously cautioned the student,” Mr Lipscombe said.
“No teacher in the course of their work would caution students in the way this case states,” he said.
“Clearly this teacher did think he was doing the right thing and acting responsibly.”
Last time I checked teachers were neither police officers or lawyers, so why should we be expected to act like them? Surely this teacher acted responsibly, first for consulting his/her superior and then for reporting the matter.
What do they mean by giving a caution anyway?
“Next time, I recommend you not stab the person. He may get hurt.”
Yet another ridiculous and insane development for Australian teachers.
Topical Teaching 