PCA Special Bulletin

The AEU has urged a fair hearing for the principal at the centre of a storm over photographic artist Bill Henson, as media besieged her present and former schools.

The AEU has committed full support to the principal and has asked for some calm to be introduced into this debate. Our view is that no principal should be put in the position of being judged without any detailed knowledge of what has actually occurred. Knee jerk reactions are no substitute for reasoned policy and support where a decision made by a principal becomes retrospectively controversial.

As such, we seek your input as to what might form appropriate additional advice and guidelines for the DEECD to consider.

We are seeking from school based principal class members examples of the varied groups and individuals that come to schools - e.g. sporting, religious, sales people, workmen, etc. and how these visits are managed.

We are also seeking input as to whether and what guidelines should be put in place to assist principals in making judgments as to who has access to schools and in what circumstances.

Please email Bob Parr, Principal Class Organiser at bob.parr@aeuvic.asn.au with your input.

We reiterate our support for any principal caught up in such a situation. No principal should have been placed in such a position where political judgments are made and publicised before any process has investigated the circumstances.