Porn good-BNP bad

Wearside internet porn teacher could return to class

A WEARSIDE man could be allowed to teach again despite looking at internet porn during school hours. Darren Adamson, 36, admitted also calling sex phone lines while head of English at Houghton Kepier School in Houghton-le- Spring, near Sunderland.

He is the second teacher to have been suspended by the same school for accessing material online in school time.

British National Party (BNP) member Adam Walker, 39, left his post last year after admitting contributing to an online forum in work time.

Walker also faces a General Teaching Council (GTC) hearing.

The GTC said while there was no evidence pupils knew what Adamson was doing, his actions were “wholly inappropriate”.

Their ruling added: “There was clearly a risk that a pupil may have entered a room when such images were on screen.”

Adamson was sacked for gross misconduct by the school, but remains on the teaching register.

But Margaret Morrissey, spokeswoman for Parents Outloud, said: “It is absolutely unacceptable. Whatever this teacher’s excuses, he knows it should not be done, certainly not on school premises, on school equipment and by a school teacher. This is one of those areas where there is no room for debate.

“If you do this you should know that you will lose your job and end your professional career. There is not a parent in the land who would want this man standing in front of a class.”

A professional conduct hearing of the GTC was told Adamson used the secondary school’s internet system to log on to a number of websites when he should have been teaching during April and May last year.

He also used preparation time to dial “premium rate” numbers, between November 2006 and March 2007.

The GTC ruled the case was “particularly serious as he should have set an example and was in a position of particular trust and authority.”

Adamson was not present at the hearing, but written accounts from him and his wife said he had experienced “considerable difficulties and anxiety in his personal life”. The committee said Adamson’s conduct had brought “the standing and reputation of the teaching profession into serious disrepute”.

The GTC issued an order stating Adamson must produce a report from a psychiatrist demonstrating he was fit to teach before he could work again.

A spokesman for Sunderland City Council said: “As Mr Adamson’s employer, the school took immediate action to suspend the teacher pending an inquiry as soon as the misuse came to light during a routine audit of the school’s IT system.

“Following a full investigation carried out by the school, during which all aspects of Child Protection issues were thoroughly considered, along with the adult nature of the sites visited and the fact they were not accessed during lesson times into account, a disciplinary hearing was held.

“Mr Adamson did not deny the allegations and was dismissed for gross Misconduct in September 2007 by the school’s governing body.”

http://www.journallive.co.uk/north-east-news/todays-news/2008/11/08/wearside-internet-porn-teacher-could-return-to-class-61634-22209548/