Greens candidate loses his teaching job for encouraging students to ditch class and join climate change protest
- Will Douglas has been stood down after he told students to attend climate strike
- He was a teacher at Moruya High and was speaking at youth forum during break
- Education Minister Rob Stokes said teachers shouldn't share politics at work
A Greens candidate has been stood down from his teaching job after he urged students to skip class and sign up for a climate change protest.
Will Douglas won't be offered more work by the New South Wales Education Department after he told students to attend a climate strike on March 15.
Mr Douglas, who is a casual teacher at Moruya High, addressed 12 to 25 year olds at a youth forum at Moruya Gold Club on Thursday.
Will Douglas (pictured) is being investigated by the NSW Education department after he told youth to attend the March 15 climate strike
The Daily Telegraph reported that he introduced himself as a teacher before urging youth to sign up.
'If there's something happening at your school, will you please get online and register because there's a whole community out there wanting to support you guys, young people, in that strike,' he said.
Education Minister Rob Stokes said that teachers should not include any political opinions in the work environment.
'If this teacher is found to have used his privileged position as an educator to influence students, he can face action,' he said.
'I'm appalled that this teacher, while being paid by the taxpayer, has sought to undertake political activity,' Mr Stokes said.
It is alleged that Mr Douglas breached the Education Department’s code of conduct.
Mr Douglas claims the event was held during his lunch break and the school was aware he would be speaking as a candidate
However he claims that the school was informed that he would be addressing youth at the forum.
Mr Douglas also said that he was speaking as a candidate and the event was held during his lunch break.
The School Strike 4 Climate Australia event encourages students to 'strike from school and tell our politicians to take our futures seriously and treat climate change for what it is - a crisis.'
Read more:
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-6802471/Greens-candidate-loses-teaching-job-encouraging-students-join-climate-change-protest.html?fbclid=IwAR17--JmkL4wE_u7nANgYA-hi9ioe0nBqq4LAZ6JfQR_25tkcvD8epAalk0
