McCarten on dismissals

I find myself largely agreeing with Matt McCarten on the dismissals of both Paul Buchanan and TVNZ security guard Louis Rawnsley being over-reactions.

Both persons did act inappropriately, but I am sure both cases could have been solved with an apology and a warning.

The Herald on Sunday editorial also calls the Buchanan sacking an excessive penalty:

The earlier email exchange shows a student whose English is poor and who is plainly not keeping up with the course’s demands. Buchanan said so and although his style was unforgivable, the substance is fair.

International student fees, as a proportion of the university’s revenue, has almost halved since 2004 but the university should not, in the hunt for the fee dollar, expect its staff to tolerate, and even reward, mediocrity.

All things considered, sacking a fine teacher seems excessive and unwise.