Parents call for sackings at Ed Dept
PARENTS of two of the children allegedly shown a nude photo by a teacher’s aide have hurled abuse at the accused on his way in and out of court.
Angered at the alleged offender, the school that employed him, and the entire Education Department, parents are now calling for people to be sacked.
The 25- year- old accused faces three charges of exposing a child under 16 to an indecent image. He fronted Townsville Magistrates Court yesterday where his matters were adjourned until November 29.
It will be alleged the man, who is European and in Australia on a working visa, showed three Year 4 children the nude image of himself at school on October 19.
It is understood he was not the holder of a blue card despite being employed at the school since May.
The Bulletin spoke to parents of two of the complainants who claimed the school failed in its duty of care to the students.
“They let our children stay at school, they let the teacher’s aide stay at school all afternoon,” one parent said.
Parents said the children were told not to tell their parents what had allegedly occurred.
The parents said they received a call from the principal at 4.50pm on the day of the al- leged offence informing them an incident had taken place, but no details were given.
“( They said they) cannot discuss it or disclose it with anybody because it’s being investigated,” one mother said.
“We waited until 6pm to ask our son what happened – he told us exactly what happened at school.
“The next day we rang the school and they confirmed it did happen and ( they said) not to say anything to anyone, not to go to the police at all, but as parents we decided that is the proper thing to do.”
The parents said they felt “sick” when their children told them what was alleged to have happened.
One father said he had been in discussions with the principal and numerous people from the Education Department, demanding answers.
The parents have called for the principal at the school to be sacked and teachers investigated. They also want someone at the Education Department to be held to account.
“All the people we’ve spoken to from the department just say ‘ sorry, sorry, sorry’ and ‘ please don’t go public’,” one parent said.
The parents also claim the department did not offer counselling for their children.
Two families said they had to seek counsellors out on their own because their children had changed following the incident.
“My son is scared, sometimes he doesn’t even want to go to school,” a mother said.
“I’ve seen a difference in ( my son), I just pray that it doesn’t affect him later in life,” another parent added.
A spokesman for the Education Department said a review into the incident was being conducted and “as the matter is also before the courts, the department is unable to provide further comment”.
The accused is not required to be present for his next court date on November 29.