Invercargill teacher slapped student over missing lolly jar
An Invercargill secondary school teacher has been found guilty of serious misconduct after slapping a student during a confrontation over a missing lolly jar.
The Teachers Disciplinary Tribunal released its decision this week regarding Connor McKenzie, a former teacher at a school whose name remains suppressed.
The incident, which took place in May 2023, occurred during a lunch break after McKenzie noticed a jar of lollies was missing from his desk.
According to the tribunal findings, McKenzie approached a group of five students outside the sports co-ordinator’s office, demanding to know who the “culprit” was.
When the exchange escalated, McKenzie delivered a “quick open-hand slap” to the left side of a student’s face.
The student described the force of the slap as a “five out of 10”, saying it left a visible mark and caused immediate shock among his peers.
In its decision, the tribunal stated that McKenzie’s actions fell significantly short of the standards expected of the profession.
“A teacher slapping a student, in any context, is conduct that is likely to adversely affect the emotional well-being of the student involved,” the tribunal said.
“Members of the public would reasonably expect all registered teachers who practise in secondary schools to refrain from using force against a student, even when responding to challenging situations.”
McKenzie, who was a provisionally registered teacher at the time, later acknowledged he had “overstepped the mark”.
The tribunal ordered a formal censure and placed conditions on McKenzie’s practising certificate for the next two years. He would be required to disclose the decision to any current or future employers.
He was also ordered to pay $2336 in costs.
The school and student were granted permanent name suppression to protect the privacy of the minor involved.
