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TEACHER IN ROW MOVIE ROW FIGHTS BACK
‘I wanted children to get an idea about Shakespeare as a child’
A DRAMA teacher dismissed from a school in Islington following a row in another borough for showing the film Shakespeare in Love to young children has defended his actions.
Robert Stringer told the Islington Tribune yesterday (Thursday) he wanted to present his account of the story.
The 56-year-old was ordered off the premises of Canonbury Primary School on January 16 within two hours of staff being informed of a police probe at a school in Hillingdon.
The married father of two from Hertfordshire said his biggest regret was not telling staff there about that investigation.
“I was only asked to run a drama club at Canonbury one evening a week,” he said. “I had already retired from teaching so it didn’t occur to me to mention an investigation which was over. I was later offered a full-time job but I still did not mention anything. I should have done.”
Education chiefs ordered an immediate review of recruitment at Canonbury, where children of London Mayor Boris Johnson and ex-Schools Minister Lord Adonis are pupils.
Two hours after the teacher was escorted off the premises, a letter was sent out warning parents not to approach or speak to Mr Stringer. The drama club was cancelled pending arrangements for a replacement teacher.
Mr Stringer had been subject to an investigation at Field End Junior School, Ruislip, from where he retired last year. The inquiry was prompted by parents’ complaints that he showed Shakespeare in Love, which includes sex scenes and nudity, to children as young as eight.
Police decided to take no action against Mr Stringer.
The teacher steadfastly defended his decision to show the film. He said: “Normally I would send out letters to parents asking for their permission to allow children to see a film with some adult themes.
“I didn’t do it in this case and I was wrong. But Shakespeare in Love is a marvellous film which has won awards. I wanted children to get an idea about what Shakespeare might have been like as a young man.
“It is one of my favourite films. While there are some sex scenes it is nothing compared with what you see on TV or the internet.”
Two parents from a class of 50 children had complained.
He added: “I accept that nowadays it may not be appropriate for certain parents to allow their children to watch a film like this. But I feel that is very sad.”
At Canonbury School, Mr Stringer said, he had been called into the acting head’s office with two members of the education authority.
He said: “I was told they had received information from a previous employer and were issuing letters to parents that my contract had been terminated. Parents were not to contact me in any way whatsoever.”
Mr Stringer has been in primary education for 12 years and before that worked in other areas of education.
His daughter Kate Stringer, 26, said her father was a dedicated teacher who was able to make difficult dramatists like Shakespeare accessible to young children. She described the saga as “a politically correct society gone mad”.
She added: “He has been treated dreadfully. I thought about going into teaching. I won’t now.”
Mr Stringer had received more than 250 letters and cards of support following the Ruislip investigation.
Former pupils left messages on the internet. One ex-Field End pupil said: “I don’t know whether to be angry or ashamed. I had Mr Stringer as my maths teacher and I learnt so much. I wasn’t that good at maths, and I wasn’t very confident either. After one year with him, I was completely different. This case is ridiculous, and yes, maybe showing the film without permission wasn’t the best thing do, but people are allowed to make mistakes, aren’t they?”
A spokeswoman for Cambridge Education @ Islington, who run Islington schools, said: “A letter has been sent to all parents and carers of Canonbury children explaining the situation, and giving as much information as is possible.”
A further letter, sent on January 23, from governors’ chairwoman Sheena Etches, read: “Information was received… from a previous employer of Mr Stringer which gave sufficient cause for concern that his temporary contract was brought to an immediate end.
“He was notified of this decision on Friday lunchtime and instructed to leave school premises. Mr Stringer will not be returning to Canonbury.”
Canonbury headteacher Jay Henderson was suspended amid allegations of “unprofessional behaviour” last year and an investigation continues.
Ms Etches said Mr Stringer’s departure was not linked to Mr Henderson’s suspension. |
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