Last week a letter from Mount Aspiring College’s PPTA branch representative Denise Bruns revealed an ongoing issue with students bullying teachers and in one incident, a threat from a student who knew where the teacher lived.
This was followed by one teacher claiming a student had called them the c-word, another teacher being followed by three students around school and a source saying teachers had been subjected to derogatory language by students, some of it of a sexual nature.
In the wake of an article in the Otago Daily Times last week, principal Nicola Jacobsen sent a letter to parents of the school reassuring them there were "robust systems in place" to support students with behavioural issues.
Parents and past students have since relayed their experiences with bullying and disrespect, which they say has been an ongoing issue at the school.
Mount Aspiring College is no stranger to turmoil.
In June 2020, the Ministry of Health put the school in statutory management following a poor education review report and parental concerns about a lack of leadership and governance.
Among other issues at the time there were rumours of bullying among teaching staff.
It came out of statutory management a year later.
Ms Jacobsen declined to comment on recent incidents of bullying when asked whether the school had a history of behavioural or cultural issues.
"We will make no further comment to generalised allegations which are not substantiated in any way.
"The majority of our students do the right thing and behave in a way that reflects our school values. There is a small number of students who make poor choices and exhibit anti-social behaviour. When this occurs and we are made aware of it, or observe it, we respond to it quickly."
She said there had been an incident where students surrounded a teacher, and other staff coming to her with safety concerns.
She would not say how the students had since been penalised, but said they had been given "tough consequences".
A safety plan for the teacher, where the principal accompanied her on lunchtime duty, had been put in place.
A letter from a former student of a school who attended between 2015 and 2021 alleged a culture of disrespect and bullying stemmed from the teachers, not students.
The writer, who asked to remain anonymous, claimed to have seen teachers yelling at students, making inappropriate comments towards girls, pulling ponytails, and using derogatory terms like "stupid" and "Hawea poors" in reference to students travelling from neighbouring Hawea.
Other peoples’ experiences of the school were mixed.
While one parent said her children loved the school and were doing well there, two others said they had withdrawn their children due to bullying concerns.
Others called for more support for teachers in the classroom, and past students reported long-standing issues with bullying and poor behaviour.
Ms Jacobsen, who has been the principal of the school since 2021, said she did not wish to comment on the specific allegations, but said the school had protocols around misbehaviour.
"We have a robust concerns and complaints policy, to ensure that matters are resolved at an appropriate level and it provides a clear way for people to be able to engage with the college on any issues which need to be addressed, taking into account privacy laws and other relevant legislation."
Last week’s letter from Ms Bruns was addressed to all staff as well as the board.
olivia.caldwell@allied media.co.nz
