Unfairly punished for daring to speak out

For Anna Rowe to lose her job as a teaching assistant at a primary school is deeply troubling. As the victim of a lying internet lothario, the 44-year-old from Rough Common felt compelled to call for a change in the law so that those who misrepresent themselves online face prosecution. A day after we published her powerful story, Ms Rowe was relieved of her duties.

The great irony being that the school had been instructing its children to speak out against that which they believe is wrong. Are we really suggesting that for adults the rules should be rewritten so that no one speaks out on any issue?

Tens of thousands of people working in public sector organisations have already been terrified into silence because they fear the reprisals of their employers.

Ms Rowe’s campaign to change the law is not even connected to Ethelbert Road Primary School or Kent County Council, the local education authority.

How many more people will be cowed into silence at the prospect that talking publicly about any issue will cost them their job?

Indeed, the most egregious element of Ms Rowe’s sacking is the fact that following our exclusive last week the issue was immediately seized upon by the national and international media.

A week after the story broke, Ms Rowe is still being courted by TV and radio stations who want her to address their audiences.

Clearly, she is on to something serious and important. She is asking legislators to make changes so the law catches up with the way technology is being used and abused.

For this, the state has rewarded her with unemployment.