Brayden Whitehorn: Pine Rivers Special School threatens parents

Parents of a Moreton Bay school which employed a teacher who possessed child abuse material have received a letter threatening criminal charges if they disparage the school’s response online.

A school north of Brisbane has threatened parents with police intervention and criminal charges for their social media posts disparaging the school’s response to this week’s revelation a teacher employed at the school possessed child exploitation material (CEM).

Pine Rivers Special School teacher Brayden Alexander Whitehorn, 26, of Bray Park, was sentenced to 18 months’ probation with no conviction recorded by a District Court judge on Tuesday for possessing a small quantity of foul CEM.

Whitehorn’s registration was suspended on January 20 this year, two days after he was charged with the offence, and he has not taught since.

Bray Park teacher Brayden Alexander Whitehorn, 26, formerly of Pine Rivers Special School before his registration was suspended, has pleaded guilty to a single count of possessing child exploitation material. Picture

The revelation sent the school community into an uproar online, with parents taking to social media to criticise the school’s poor handling of the shocking news and lack of communication.

However, Principal Neil Larter has now warned the school community, in a letter seen by Pine Rivers Press, that their online posts could open them up to criminal prosecution.

Quoting a school policy document, titled ‘Our Parent Handbook’, Mr Larter appealed to parents who witnessed “inappropriate or negative content online” to report it to the school “so that we can deal with it”.

Bray Park teacher Brayden Alexander Whitehorn, 26. Picture: Facebook

“Serious instances of inappropriate online behaviour may constitute a criminal offence and the police may need to be involved,” he said.

The warning was followed by an assurance that the “safety and wellbeing of our students is of utmost importance and that all necessary steps to ensure their safety are taken”.

“I’m sure that you would understand that we are unable to provide any further information regarding a police investigation,” the letter concludes.

Pine Rivers Special School principal Mr Neil Larter. Picture: Pine Rivers Special School Facebook.

A parent of a current Pine Rivers Special School student told the Pine Rivers Press she was “shocked at the lack of communication and honesty” surrounding the case.

She said she called the school’s administration “straight away (after reading the media report) and was told they had no idea who or what I was talking about”.

Another member of the school community said she was “extremely disappointed” in the school’s response.

She said the whole situation “sounds like the school is just trying to keep their reputation”.

“They have failed the children at the school and the parents of the children that go to Pine Rivers Special School,” she said.

Education Queensland was contacted for comment.