Teacher's claims 'not covered by Act'
The Herald Sun (Melbourne)
THU 23 JAN 1986
Ed: 3
Pg: 6
Words: 197


THE Equal Opportunity Board yesterday dimissed all complaints of alleged discrimination made by a former Melbourne High School teacher. The board said Mr John Connaughton's complaints against the school's staff association, the principal and five teachers were not covered by the Equal Opportunity Act.

Mr Connaughton, 53, had earlier told the board he had been victimised and ridiculed because of his political beliefs.

A member of the UFO Research Society, Mr Connaughton claimed a school employee tried to make out he was teaching about space and UFOs during English classes. He said he was discriminated against on political grounds over sticking to Victorian Secondary Teachers' Association policies.

After the hearing, he said had been unjustly treated.

Mr Connaughton, who is unemployed, said he believed there should have been at least one male member on the board.

He said the board members - Ms Jan Wade, Ms Pat Clancy and Dr Leanna Darvall - would find it hard to "pick up men's attitudes." Mr Connaughton said he would appeal to the Supreme Court if he could get Legal Aid Commission funding. "They might have won the case but they haven't won the war," he said.