‘Hush, hush’: teacher accused of 1980s student sex abused finally suspended from duty

A former colleague of a teacher accused of explosive, historic sexual abuse said it was a “sad state of affairs” it had taken 30 years for the accusations to be acted upon. LATEST >>

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IT HAS taken more than 30 years, but a teacher accused of sexually abusing a vulnerable Grade 9 student and getting her pregnant has finally been stood down.

The move has come after the Mercury this week published a story revealing explosive allegations from a retired educator – who said he was horrified that decades later, the teacher remained employed by the Education Department.

Education Minister Jeremy Rockliff confirmed in Parliament on Wednesday that the teacher in question was “removed from their place of work” after the allegations – dating back to 1989 – had come to light.

He confirmed police had been notified and that the man had been suspended from teaching duties, with an official investigation to commence immediately.

But the retiree, who has asked to remain anonymous, said it was a “sad state of affairs” that it had taken three decades for action to be taken.

He also said staff at the Hobart school in question were told to “hush, hush” after their principal told them the teacher in question had resigned.

Deputy Premier Jeremy Rockliff arrives at question time in state parliament. Picture: Zak Simmonds

“The principal said at the end of his little speech, I don’t want this to be discussed among the staff and I certainly don’t want this to be discussed among the students,” the retiree said.

“It was very hush, hush. We were all stunned.

“To have that dropped on you at recess time was a real shock.”

The retiree said although the teacher resigned at the time, he was employed by a Hobart Catholic school 18 months later, and was later re-employed by the state’s Education Department.

He said the teacher had – until this week – been teaching at a school in the state’s north.

“They knew about him, they knew the bastard was up there,” he said.

“It’s been brushed under the carpet.

“It’s good now that it’s all come to the surface and there’s a bit more accountability.”

The retiree said the Grade 9 girl in question had been vulnerable and impressionable.

“He’s obviously charmed her,” he said.

“She was in a very vulnerable position to be groomed.”

The retiree’s concerns were echoed by a fellow retired teacher, who told the Mercury on Wednesday that he’d also been present at the staff meeting in 1989.

Meanwhile, the Education Department has declined to reveal whether it has informed students at the northern school about why the teacher in question is not at work.

“As this is now a police matter, it is inappropriate for us to make any detailed comments in relation to this matter,” a departmental spokesperson said.

Mr Rockliff said in a statement that the department didn’t have previous knowledge of the allegations.

“Upon being made aware of the allegations, the person at the centre of the allegations was removed from their place of work yesterday,” he said.

“The Department of Education has referred this matter to the police, and the Department of Justice has also been informed.

“Allegations of this nature are taken extremely seriously.”

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