Nigel Studdart on Close Up A Northland teacher has been suspended for supporting students who are pro marriage equality. Science teacher Nigel Studdart was stood down on Wednesday by Pompallier College, a Catholic school in Whangarei. It came after he backed a silent protest against the principal’s anti-equality comments in a school newsletter, where students wore rainbow wristbands. Studdart told Close Up he has no issue with the principal's stance on gay marriage. "I fully understand, it's a Catholic school. It wouldn't be my opinion, but he's entitled to his. "My real problem with it, separate from the students issue really, is where he contended, to use his words, that somehow gay parents would be lesser parents.” Teachers’ union the PPTA is backing Studdart and is discussion with the school and its Board of Trustees.
Credit: GayNZ.com Daily News staff
First published: Friday, 31st August 2012 - 11:46am