A teacher who “snorted” white powder off a school desk during an after-hours Christmas party has admitted it was the “most stupid thing” he had ever done in his life. Photo \/ 123rf<\/p>\n
\u201cThe risk of a teacher being observed while on school grounds whether by students or other members of the public exists, and teachers should act accordingly,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
Another teacher, who also has interim name suppression, faced a disciplinary charge over the same incident. <\/p>\n
Party moved from tavern to classroom<\/p>\n
According to the decision, they were part of a group socialising with colleagues at an end-of-year function on December 13, 2022.<\/p>\n
It began in a tavern and ended up back in a school classroom about three hours later.<\/p>\n
About 16 staff members returned to the school, intending to continue the party. <\/p>\n
It was shut down by the deputy principal after hearing from some staff members that a teacher had been offering \u201clines\u201d to colleagues seated at a desk in the classroom.<\/p>\n
Days later, the deputy met with the teacher seen snorting the substance.<\/p>\n
He said he did not ordinarily smoke or do drugs and explained he had walked to the back of the classroom, where about four other teachers offered him a \u201cline\u201d. <\/p>\n
The teacher saw five lines of white powder on a desk and used a rolled-up $5 note to sniff some of the powder but said he did not know what happened to the other four lines. <\/p>\n
He had been drinking<\/a> beforehand and claimed the powder did not affect him.<\/p>\n The charge of serious misconduct followed an investigation by the Complaints Assessment Committee (CAC), which heard how the teacher \u201cdeeply regretted\u201d what happened.<\/p>\n \u201cI want to make it unequivocally clear that I do not condone the events that transpired, and I continue to be in the dark about the nature of the substance involved,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n No proof the substance was illicit<\/p>\n The charge was brought on the basis that the CAC could not prove that the white powder was an illegal drug<\/a>. <\/p>\n Agreement was reached that the tribunal should proceed on the basis that the teacher thought he was consuming an illegal drug but did not in fact do so.<\/p>\n