korero

The trial of a Masterton teacher who was last night cleared of indecency charges against a pupil will damage the profession's appeal as a career, the school's principal says.
Masterton Intermediate deputy principal Russell Thompson was yesterday acquitted by a Wellington District Court jury on two charges of committing indecent acts on a 12-year-old pupil.
It was alleged he touched the girl's bottom on the outside of her clothes on a number of occasions when they were alone. It was also alleged he bent down and kissed her on the mouth.
Mr Thompson had strong support throughout the trial from family and many of his work colleagues, including the school's principal Frazer Mailman.
Many took the stand as character witnesses and spoke about Mr Thompson's high standing among his peers and popularity with the school's pupils.
Mr Mailman said today incidents such as the one in question had a negative impact on all teachers – particularly males. "I believe it has a significant impact in terms of the numbers of male teachers that are in our teaching force," he said.
As mentioned previously, I trained with Russell and I am pleased for him that he has been declared innocent. Teaching is surely not a safe place for men to work. The rules are simple. Never be alone with less than 3 students no matter be they male or female. If you must, make sure there is another staff member with you. I do not blame him that he is looking at his options and would not be surprised if he decided to retrain and embark on another career. It will most certainly have a negative effect on men choosing to be teachers.

This is the kind of thing we must put a stop to. This woman needs help and education now. Child abuse is not acceptable. Lets help her out.

Surely someone else saw this or knows the people involved. Child abuse happens because we no longer get involved in other people's business. We need to put a stop to this behaviour. It is not good enough.
These things exist because we allow them too. It is up to us!

Read this and wonder what is going on? Who's society is this? Who raised these people to be parents? How come the total lack of care for our children? When will something be done to make life easier, more pleasurable and more productive for the family unit? Has good parenting gone forever? Must we ALL be at work ALL the time? What space is there for family in our nation? Be careful, its on the way out!

Nia Glassie died this afternoon, at 4.12pm, at Starship children's hospital in Auckland.
She had spent most of this week on a ventilator in a coma, after allegedly suffering months of horrific abuse.
Rotorua coroner Wallace Bain revealed that Nia had died.
Police said there would be a post mortem examination of Nia's body in Auckland tomorrow.
Here is the story. What more can one say?

So. Oriwa Kemp, Michael Curtis, William Curtis, and Michael Pearson are in fear of their lives after they were accused of putting Nia Glassie (3 years old) in hospital with severe head and abdominal injuries. It seems that Nia will suffer brain damage and Lord knows what else. They it seems, did not hold Nia's life in such regard. There is also Nia's mother's partner Wiremu Curtis, who is out on bail. I think that they have given up their right to safety from the wolves who would feed on them like the carrion that they are. I do not condone capital punishment but neither do I feel compassion for their fear. Taste some of what you did to Nia.