Allegations of Sexual Abuse
	False Allegations
	John Edgar case
	The Evening Post May 5, 1998 Edgar case highlights teachers' vulnerability Editorial With the cheers of his supporters ringing in his ears, a verdict of not guilty recorded against his name and his teaching career in tatters, John Edgar must have felt a whirlwind of emotions as he stood outside Hamilton District Court last week. Dr Edgar had just been cleared of eight charges of indecency against children at Hamilton's Hukanui Primary School, allegations that cost him his job and his reputation for being a brilliant teacher. Having endured what he described as six months of hell for something he didn't do, an embittered Dr Edgar warned men against taking up teaching because he said it left them open to allegations of child sex abuse. Although Dr Edgar was clearly upset that the charges were brought against him, his heat-of-the-moment comments were unwise and would have sent a shudder through a profession trying desperately to attract good-quality male teachers. Despite Dr Edgar's belief that he was persecuted over a few "stupid stories" made up by a group of children, in hindsight even he would have to admit that any allegations of child sex abuse made against teachers - no matter how implausible they might be - must be investigated thoroughly. In any environment children's safety is paramount, and to ignore the claims of some is to potentially put at risk the safety of others. Dr Edgar's case does, however, highlight the issue of male teachers' vulnerability to allegations of sexual misconduct. Tai Tokerau Principals' Association president Geoff Skudder says male teachers have to be careful that anything they do is not misconstrued. Even something as simple as patting a child on the back can be taken the wrong way. This is a sad indictment of a society emasculated and inhibited by political correctness. When a male teacher - perhaps the only male in the life of a child from a broken home - feels he cannot express support or sympathy for a child who is crying for reassurance, because he fears he will be accused of sexual abuse, his effectiveness as a teacher and role model is diminished. Which doesn't mean children who complain of sexual abuse should be ignored. All allegations must be reported and investigated, and sometimes the allegations will be found to have no substance. The tragedy of the Edgar case is that a young, dynamic and by all accounts gifted teacher has been lost to the profession, but Hukanui school's handling of the situation was straight out of the textbook. The same certainly cannot be said of King's School in Auckland. When managers of the exclusive Remuera junior school learned that one its teachers, Lloyd Brown, had admitted sexually abusing a 12-year-old boy they not only failed to alert police or education officials, they sent Brown quietly on his way with a letter praising his work. Another school took the glowing commendation at face value and hired him, unaware that it had just recruited a dangerous paedophile. Within a year Brown was arrested and last month he was jailed for two years after admitting five counts of indecently assaulting three boys, two of them King's pupils. The inaction by King's School's board and its apparent endorsement of Brown was reprehensible. Despite its claims that Brown wasn't reported to spare the victims the ordeal of an investigation, the school had a moral obligation to protect other children by exposing Brown as a sexual predator. King's School stands shamed by its appalling handling of the case.