Parents target teachers over porn, says South Australian minister

TEACHERS in South Australia have been accused by anxious parents of viewing violent pornography, the Education Minister says.

TEACHERS at a South Australian school have been falsely accused by anxious parents of viewing violent pornography, the Education Minister has claimed, as emotions run high after the suspension of a senior staff member over an incident at another school nine years ago.

Yesterday Jennifer Rankine said teachers had been "wrongly targeted by parents who are anxious". The school principal and the government yesterday blamed a media outlet that named the school for the "distressing" situation.

"Most unfortunately and concerningly, this particular school has been named . . . that has caused obviously parents some concern because people are still unclear about what it is the teacher is alleged to have done," Ms Rankine told ABC Radio.

"Naming the school has potentially pointed the finger at the wrong teacher and doing things like that can actually have serious consequences to other people. It is really distressing to see pixelated photographs, that are very lightly pixelated so that people get a very strong sense of who that person might be, that a school is named and teachers can be wrongly targeted by parents who are anxious."

An Education Department spokeswoman later said the department was "not aware of any specific instances at this stage" of teachers being falsely accused by parents.

Ms Rankine said the school's Year 8 co-ordinator and head of IT was accused of accessing pornography at a different school in 2004 using a Year 10 student's internet log-in, and allowing him to take the blame. She said the incident was "absolutely inappropriate but not illegal" and that the teacher's actions had not been proven "to the point beyond reasonable doubt".

In a letter received by parents yesterday, the school's principal said he was "extremely disappointed" a media outlet "felt the need to name our school".

The principal said the matter did not involve child safety, police were not taking action and the department expected an internal review to be completed by the end of the month. "Once the department's investigation is complete, further advice will be provided to you," the letter said.

Opposition education spokesman David Pisoni said it was disturbing the minister did not appear to understand what parents were entitled to know.

The former student wrongly blamed for viewing pornographic websites is trying to have the teacher deregistered. Last year the young man was paid $30,000 by the department. The teacher was suspended on full pay only after The Australian exposed the 2004 case.