Teacher under fire for negative comments

The head of chemistry at a private boarding school who wrote "disparaging" comments on student testimonials has been reinstated in her job while a formal investigation is carried out.

Carol Ann Ward was the head of chemistry at St Peter's School in Cambridge and had been a teacher at the school since January 2003.

Ms Ward was dismissed from her position after she wrote comments on student testimonials that were negative of other students and staff at the Anglican school.

The testimonials, which were sent to students before they had been approved, included the comments "[the student] never used me, abused me, but has always treated me with respect as a person, which is more than I can say for many of her peers and the staff I have to work with."

"A simple hello from [the student] on many days have been the difference between me going home feeling like I'm a worthless piece of crap to be beaten down or going home feeling at least one person as (sic) acknowledged me that day."

After the dismissal in October this year, Ms Ward took her claim to the Employment Relations Authority, which has released its decision that Ms Ward should reinstated in her role.

Ms Ward said in an affidavit to the authority that the comments were not meant to be included in the final testimonial but were for tutor group teachers to use "as they wished" in writing the students' testimonials.

The testimonials were sent unedited to three students so they knew their applications were complete, she said.

When principal Steve Robb was alerted to the comments, he tried to meet Ms Ward to discuss and find out more about the comments.

Ms Ward engaged a lawyer and provided evidence that she was medically unfit to participate in any meetings.

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Teacher under fire for negative comments