Board backs principal despite new allegations
The West Spreydon School Board says it fully supports embattled principal Marriene Langton, despite further revelations about her behaviour, this time from parents.
On Saturday, The Press revealed that the celebrated Christchurch school was divided over the long-time principal. Twelve former staff members said she ruled through fear, while others said she was “the best thing” to happen to the school.
Those who spoke to The Press said they left the school because of what they described as a toxic culture that made them question their ability to do their jobs, at times reduced them to tears, and in some cases affected their mental health.
The Press was flooded with emails from current and former parents who said they, or their children, had been bullied by Langton.
Several said they changed schools because of the principal, and their children had thrived at new schools.
In a statement released on Monday night, Te Ara Koropiko West Spreydon School Board told the school community it was taking the situation seriously.
“The board has a clear legal and ethical responsibility to ensure our kura is a safe place for staff and students alike ... Our support remains fully behind Marriene Langton as tumuaki [principal] at Te Ara Koropiko,” it read.
It inadvertently admitted that complaints had been laid, something the board previously refused to confirm. “We are confident that due process was followed when matters arose,” it said.
It is understood that principals from nearby primary schools went to the Lyttelton St site to support Langton on Monday afternoon.
Rowan Robinson said he moved his daughter to a new school because of Langton. “The only reason we moved her out of that school was because of Marriene. It was just unbearable.
“It would have been neglectful as a parent to leave our child there in that environment.”
He said that during a meeting with the principal, he was told his daughter should harden up.
Robinson said that during a swimming lesson one day, he watched as a young pupil asked if she could go to the toilet, and was told no by the principal. The girl ended up wetting herself in the changing room and was subsequently told off.
“[Langton] humiliated her in front of the whole class, to the point where my daughter was too scared to ask to go to the toilet at all, because she was too scared to be bullied or yelled at.”
Robinson owns a construction company, and said he donated a significant amount of personal and company time to help with the school’s post-quake pool rebuild.
“We didn’t deserve the treatment that we got … We were just dismissed, and it was nothing short of bullying.”
Wendy Jackson blamed the principal for ruining her son’s time at primary school. “I just don’t think she should be around children,” she said.
The Hoon Hay mum acknowledged that her son had had a difficult upbringing, but said she was trying her hardest to support him through counselling and with the help of social workers.
Her son would get in trouble, sometimes for hitting other children, and would be punished by not being allowed outside during play times, sometimes for days at a time, she said.
“At primary school, you’re entrusting these people with teaching these kids about life, how to deal with things in life, especially around other people and other students, and all he got was punished.”
Jackson said she tried to talk to the principal about these issues but was shut down. “You always came away from a meeting feeling worse.”
Many of the parents also remarked how their timid, bullied children flourished once they moved to another primary school or graduated to intermediate.
Hunter, the third generation in his family to attend West Spreydon School, was one of those children. His mother Cassie, who asked The Press not to use her surname, said she felt belittled by the principal while trying to get help for her neurodivergent son.
She said she watched her son and two friends get shouted at by the principal one day after playing with sticks at lunchtime. Her son was beside himself, so she pulled him out of school for the rest of the day to give him time to calm down.
“I just don’t understand how you can reduce and control bullying in the school when the person running the school is the worst of them,” she said.
Several of the parents said interactions with the principal often left them feeling that they were the problem and they weren’t good enough parents. They said they now felt strong enough to speak out because they realised they were not alone in their concerns.
The West Spreydon School board did not respond to specific questions about any of these incidents. It said it could only deal with complaints that came through the correct process.
Another former parent, who moved her son to a different school, said it was time for the board to step up. “There will be kids and teachers that are still getting treated like that.”