Pubdate: Thu, 24 Jul 2003
Source: Southland Times (New Zealand)
Copyright: 2003, Southland Times Company Ltd.
Contact:  http://www.southlandtimes.co.nz/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1041
Author: CHERIE HOWIE

HARGEST DECISIONS DEFENDED

The community did not know the full story behind an apparent disparity in 
punishments meted out to students involved in two separate incidents, James 
Hargest High School principal Paul O'Connor said yesterday.

The Invercargill high school was criticised this month for its handling of 
the two incidents involving students.

In May a 13-year-old third-form girl was indecently assaulted during 
schooltime by four male students.

The students were stood down for four days and the matter referred to 
police who warned the boys and made them write letters of apology to the girl.

A month later, Scott Irvine, 14, was suspended then expelled after he 
admitted smoking cannabis while he stood with a group of other students. At 
the time, he was out of school uniform, away from the grounds and out of 
schooltime.

However, Mr O'Connor, who returned to Invercargill on Saturday after three 
weeks overseas, said the school was on a "hiding to nothing" because fear 
of breaching student privacy meant he could not tell the community the full 
story.

"The sadness for this school in the light of what has occurred over the 
last two weeks is that we are not at liberty to disclose specifics to do 
with the way that we have supported and-or disciplined students in our 
school publicly.

"The contract that I have, and my board has, with every parent in this 
school is that I must respect their children's privacy.

"This issue is in the public arena ... I ask you and your readers to draw 
their own conclusions." He was "absolutely convinced" parents would be in 
support of the school's stance if they knew all the facts.

It would be inappropriate for him to comment on the board's decision to 
suspend Scott but he had "every confidence" in the way the board operated, 
Mr O'Connor said.

However, the decision to only stand-down the four students involved in the 
indecent assault was his and he stood by it, he said.

Mr O'Connor did not answer when asked why suspension was not considered for 
Scott.

James Hargest is one of three city secondary schools involved in Resus, a 
suspension intervention programme set up last year, designed to keep 
troubled students in the school system.

The programme received a $315,000 funding boost last month to allow it to 
continue for three years.

Board of trustees chairman Murray Frost said yesterday Resus was for 
students who were remorseful and wanted to learn.

Previous behaviour was also taken into account.

"We've never seen any evidence that Scott's sorry for what he's done. You 
may have."

James Hargest was no longer helping Scott find a new school, Mr O'Connor 
said. It was now the Ministry of Education's responsibility.

"We have made every effort that we are required to do to find him a place 
in another school. It's no longer our responsibility."

There was a lot of support in the community for the school and he had 
received a "large number" of phone calls in support since he arrived back 
in the country, Mr O'Connor said.

He had received no negative calls, he said.
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