Principal resigns overr anti-vaccination issue at Perth school

The principal of a Steiner school in Perth has resigned after he had failed to set up an on-site immunisation clinic.

The Perth Waldorf School.

The principal of a controversial Steiner school in Perth has ­resigned after revelations that as many as half of his 420 students were unvaccinated and that he had failed to take up a government offer to set up an on-site immunisation clinic.

Perth Waldorf School council chairman Kewan Bond told parents and staff in a letter that administrator Jean-Michel David — an opponent of government vaccination programs — had left the role with immediate effect after talks with the board on Tuesday.

The school has since agreed to allow the West Australian Health Department to send a special vaccination clinic to the campus.

Last week an unvaccinated high school ­student from the school was ­diagnosed with measles, sparking fears of a potential outbreak of the highly contag­ious disease.

Before being diagnosed, and while still infectious, the student attended Waldorf school, which ­includes preschool and primary school students as well as a playgroup for younger children.

Mr David refused to comment on the school’s apparently lax stance on vaccinations.

The Australian reported on Tuesday that the school had told parents in official documents they had the freedom to decide whether to immunise their children.

The school’s official enrolment guide tells parents they need to provide a range of documents, including “psychological assessments” and a birth certificate, but makes no mention of vaccination records.

It has emerged that Mr David contested the 2014 Victorian election on a platform opposing a plan to restrict unvaccinated children from enrolling in ­kindergarten and daycare.

“To impose or penalise those who do nothing wrong except not ­partake of government-imposed­ injections is mind-bogglin­gly autocratic, and has no place in a western democracy,” he wrote on his website at the time.

Mr David started work at the school in January. In the letter to parents and staff late on Wednesday, Mr Bond announced Mr David’s departure from the school “with sadness”.

“After discussions with council and the College of Teachers, Jean-Michel has decided to ­resign,” he said.

Steiner Education Australia acting chief executive Virginia Miller denied Steiner schools had an anti-vaccination ethos. “There’s nothing in the philosophy or the delivery of the education that is anti-vaccination,” she said. “Steiner schools take the responsibility to pass on public health information seriously.”