OK for Henson principal to stay: Brumby
- 7th October 2008
John Brumby.
VICTORIAN Premier John Brumby has defended keeping a Melbourne primary school principal on the job while investigations into her role in the Bill Henson affair continue.
Former St Kilda Park Primary School principal Sue Knight is being investigated for inviting the controversial artist to scout for talent in the school's playground.
Mr Henson was at the centre of an uproar earlier this year over an exhibition of his photographs depicting naked children.
Mr Brumby said it was appropriate for Ms Knight, who is now principal of Coburg West Primary School, to remain working, even though he disapproved of her actions.
"It was quite inappropriate for Mr Henson to have been allowed into the school," Mr Brumby said.
"The teacher concerned has been a very good teacher in our state system for a long period of time and we need to get all of the facts. I think until we've got all of the facts we're not rushing to a final judgment.
"But I repeat, I believe that what occurred was not appropriate and I've made that view clear."
Mr Brumby said there were "very few, if any circumstances" when it was appropriate for an outsider to come into school grounds to scout for business.
However, when asked what the situation was for politicians looking for votes, he suggested there was a difference.
The premier said politicians usually went into senior classes, with the approval of the school.
"But again all of these things will be examined as part of the report being undertaken by the department."
Back at work at Coburg West Primary, Ms Knight said she could not comment at length on the incident while the education department investigation was under way.
"I'm not in a position to pre-empt the outcomes of the investigation, but I'm certainly looking forward to receiving the conclusions from the investigation," she told AAP.
"What I'm trying to do is get stuck into my normal work in a very busy, very energetic school."
- © AAP
