A teacher has claimed in the High Court that she was wrongly deprived of a permanent position at St Gerard's School in Bray, Co Wicklow, and that an "obnoxious" class in the school contained a disruptive element who sought to "target" her.
Ms Mary Teresa Hennessy claims that after the school board failed to make her permanent, despite what she claims was an offer of such a post, all the other teachers signed a petition expressing solidarity and dismay at what they described as the incorrect procedures used in her case.
Ms Hennessy from Kilmacanogue, Co Wicklow, has brought her action against the board of governors of St Gerard's. She was a maths and business organisation teacher there from August 2002. However, in March 2003, reference was made to a probationary period and, at the end of April 2003, she received a letter signed by the chairman of the school board which stated it did not intend to offer a contract of continuous employment at the end of her probationary period.
In her proceedings, she wants a declaration that she is a full-time teacher at St Gerard's and an order permitting her to return to her teaching post. She is also seeking damages for breach of contract and exemplary damages for loss of reputation.
Opening the case, Martin Hayden SC, for Ms Hennessy, said she taught seven classes in St Gerard's senior school including maths to third year and a sixth year pass class. The only complaints related to the latter class.
After observing that class in March 2003, school principal Gerald Foley noted that when Ms Hennessy asked students to stop talking, there was little or no co-operation. On four occasions, students challenged the teacher and he noted that there was a very poor atmosphere in class. Mr Foley later indicated in April 2003 in a conversation with Ms Hennessy that sixth class was an obnoxious class, Mr Hayden said. It seemed there was a disruptive element in sixth class seeking to target Ms Hennessy.
Counsel said Ms Hennessy had taught for 12 years and there was never a complaint about her work in that time. She was on temporary contract as a teacher in St Mary's School, Rathmines, Dublin, when she applied for the job in St Gerard's. At her interview it was not suggested it was anything other than a permanent post. No mention was made of a probationary period.
In December 2002, Mr Foley intimated a complaint had been received from a parent about the way in which maths was being taught. No complaint was made personally to Ms Hennessy by a parent.
A meeting of all maths teachers was held to discuss maths in the school. A memo of that meeting asked why higher level maths was not of a better standard at St Gerard's given the socio-economic background and improved ability of its intake.
In a letter to two parents who had complained, Mr Foley said Ms Hennessy was an excellent teacher but a number of students in sixth class were not co-operating with telling the teacher how much of the curriculum had already been covered. If Ms Hennessy was on a probationary period as claimed by St Gerard's, she should not have been given a problem class, counsel argued.
The hearing before Mr Justice Kevin Haugh continues today.