Roger Dasent
("Mr. Pissant") Principal BA Hons (Victoria 2nd Class 2nd
Div) Cert Env Ed (Lusaka)
In his late 30s, disillusioned with teaching, his dreams of
one day being head of a decent school like Auckland Grammar or
Christ's College have long since evaporated.
A life member of the PPTA and the Labour Party, he was once a
passionate believer in public education and the role schools could
play in closing the gaps that exist in society, but Tomorrows
Schools, Vouchers, Back to Basics and the ERO, etc have crushed his
idealism. He is a coward who hates conflict. He is probably
suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder.
Money is part of the problem, not helped by a falling roll. Dasent
is forever trying to attract fee-paying students from overseas. The
One bright spot in his life was his two years teaching in Africa
where he caught a gastro-intestinal tract infection and bled from
the bowel every day. Profound loss of confidence has robbed him of
all but vestigial decision-making powers. He can't expel a pupil,
however disobedient. Nor can he fire a teacher no matter how
incompetent. His way of dealing with selfish and demanding staff is
instant capitulation.
