NOVANEWS
25 May 2010.
General Teaching Council clear BNP teacher
Adam Walker, the BNP activist who posted comments online using a school laptop describing immigrants as “savage animals” and “filth” while working as a teacher, has been cleared of racial and religious intolerance by the General Teaching Council.
Commenting on the verdict, Christine Blower, General Secretary of the National Union of Teachers, said;
“Given what we know of the evidence in the public domain, the outcome of the findings of the GTC is perverse. Teachers are entrusted with a very real responsibility to children, parents, and wider society. We do not believe that a teacher with BNP membership could remain in the classroom without being racist in some way, shape or form. That is why close monitoring and awareness of racist attitudes is vital.
“The NUT is fundamentally opposed to racist and fascist ideologies and reserves the right to take disciplinary action against members guilty of conduct which gives expression to racist or fascist views.
“The growth of far-right organisations in recent years is of grave concern to the NUT, particularly when their representatives act as school governors or councillors.
“All our schools need to be protected as havens of tolerance and community cohesion, as underlined by the Every Child Matters agenda. We always need to be vigilant of the activities of anyone in our school community who has far-right sympathies and may fail to balance that view with their professional duties”.
