1 Oct 2012

Sacked teacher considers legal action

8:16 am on 1 October 2012

Whangarei teacher Nigel Studdart, who lost his job at a Catholic school for taking a public stand on gay rights, is considering legal action.

The science teacher was dismissed from Pompallier College for helping students stage a peaceful protest against comments made by the principal about gay marriage and gay parenting.

Principal Richard Stanton set out his religious objections to both in the school's August newsletter.

Mr Studdart says he'll be meeting the secondary teachers' union this week to review the matter and will seek mediation as a first choice.

Mr Studdart says he wants to go back to the school, because he loves the pupils there and would like to help them with the NCEA programme, but if not he hopes he'll get another teaching job.