Cleared teacher may quit the classroom

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Shattered confidence could stand in the way of Masterton teacher Russell Thompson returning to the career he loves despite being cleared of indecent assault allegations.

Mr Thompson had lived under a cloud for the past seven months, since being charged with two counts of committing indecent acts on a 12-year-old pupil at Masterton Intermediate School, where he has been deputy principal since 1994.

It was alleged he touched the girl's bottom on the outside of her clothes on several occasions when they were alone. It was also alleged he bent down and kissed her on the mouth.

At the end of a three-day trial in Wellington this week, the jury returned a not guilty verdict.

But the toll has mounted on Mr Thompson, 47, and his family, and in the aftermath of the stress of the past few months, he is no longer certain about returning to his role at the school.

The school's board of trustees, which suspended him in May pending the outcome of the trial, is to meet again next week to reconsider that decision.

The school has made it clear it wants Mr Thompson back - teaching staff describe him as one of the pillars of the school.

Mr Thompson, who has asked for a little time to rally around his family and collect his thoughts before commenting on the court decision, told The Dominion Post last month that his life had almost fallen apart because of the case.

"It's been horrible and I feel totally shattered," he said.

"This is anyone's worst nightmare and has been hard on everyone. I love my teaching and my life here with my family. I just want to get it back."

Principal Frazer Mailman, who spoke to Mr Thompson immediately after the jury's not guilty verdict on Thursday night, said the allegations and drawn-out wait for the trial had rattled everyone's nerves.

"I believe that in cases like this there are no winners. Russell hasn't won because he hasn't been able to do what he's passionate about, which is teach, because he has had to endure the stress of charges he emphatically denied.

"That stigma may not go away as it will always be in the back of Russell's mind but I truly hope that he can find the confidence and the courage to come back to us."

Mr Mailman and the school board would try to persuade Mr Thompson - a teacher for 25 years - to return at the start of the new school year, when many of the students affected by the allegations will have left for college.

Meanwhile, the indecent assault allegations, though unproven, have also raised concerns about the profession's appeal to men as a career.

Mr Mailman said allegations of sexual misconduct always put the spotlight on male teachers.

"Given today's climate all teachers have to be very much aware of their relationships with students. For males they have to be extremely conscious of that, but in saying that, day-to-day life in a school will see some teachers at some stage being in situation where they are by themselves with a student.

"I just hope, as the teaching profession struggles to attract the males that are so very needed in our education system, that cases like this do not lead to a very negative impact. This man was proven innocent and we can all take stock and learn from this."

- © Fairfax NZ News