<div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>A primary school teacher told an 11-year-old pupil "you should come, like, see me" during a series of persistent late-night </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/social-media" rel="" target="_blank" title="TikTok messages"><span>TikTok messages</span></a><span> that left two children feeling "sick to the stomach".</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/new-zealand" rel="" target="_blank" title="New Zealand"><span>New Zealand</span></a><span> Teachers Disciplinary Tribunal has censured Hamilton teacher Grant Daniel Spicer for serious misconduct and ordered that his register entry be annotated for two years.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The tribunal also directed the Teaching Council to impose conditions on any future practising certificate Spicer might hold, including a requirement to complete a professional development course on maintaining boundaries.</span></div></div><div><div id="adspot-mobile-medium"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/farrer-by-election-2026-one-nation-candidate-david-farley-potential-chances/38400530-aaef-4f00-b911-ca602a752b91" rel="" target="_blank" title="The man behind One Nation's biggest election test yet"><strong><span>The man behind One Nation's biggest election test yet</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Spicer, who was the head of ICT and the lead teacher for the digital curriculum at Rototuna Primary School, began messaging one 11-year-old student - referred to as Student A in the tribunal's findings - around 9pm on July 7, 2023.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>During the exchange, he complimented the girl's outfit and asked what time she was going to sleep.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The tribunal found that Spicer recognised teachers were not meant to text children, telling Student A they had to block each other because "teachers can't text kids".</span></div></div><div><div class="OUTBRAIN" data-reactroot="" data-src="//www.9news.com.au/world/new-zealand-news-schoolgirl-sick-to-stomach-teacher-tiktok-messages/b34e83c6-a58c-4b03-a13f-bf170b13e38d" data-widget-id="AR_5"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>However, after Student A provided the TikTok details for another student, referred to as Student B, Spicer immediately followed the second 11-year-old and began messaging her at 10.16pm.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Student B reported feeling "off" and "sick" after Spicer complimented her hair.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE: </span></strong><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/world/australia-oil-crisis-prime-minister-anthony-albanese-lands-in-singapore-on-mission-to-cement-oil-supply/0e9b8d55-8bc1-4e4b-a86a-d64af25b635a" target="" title="PM lands in Singapore on mission to cement fuel supply"><strong><span>PM lands in Singapore on mission to cement fuel supply</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Even after Spicer told Student B he had to remove her because "teachers aren't really meant to follow kids", he asked her to "promise" to add him back anytime she wanted to chat.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>He continued to send unreciprocated messages to her about his family and other random topics after she unfollowed him.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The tribunal stated the messaging had a negative impact on both pupils, who were "inherently vulnerable" and not legally old enough to have TikTok accounts.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Student B avoided Spicer at school and required counselling as a result of the interactions.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"His messages were persistent. His references to not being allowed to message the students because he was a teacher were likely to be confusing to the students as he continued to contact them after telling them this. Both students reported feeling uncomfortable and/or uneasy and 'sick to the stomach'," the tribunal noted.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Spicer, whose practising certificate expired in May 2024, admitted the charge of serious misconduct.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>In a statement to the tribunal, he said he mistakenly thought keeping his TikTok account open would help him be "more relatable" and help pupils respond better to instructions in the classroom.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>He stated he deeply regretted his actions, which went against his training and the online safety curriculum he taught.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The tribunal rejected an application from the Rototuna Primary School Board of Trustees to suppress the school's name, ruling that the principle of open justice outweighed the school's concerns about reputational damage.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Spicer was also ordered to pay $4766.40 in costs.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Permanent non-publication orders are in place for the names and identifying particulars of the students.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><em><strong><span>This story has been reproduced with permission from Stuff.co.nz.</span></strong></em></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><em><strong><span>NEVER MISS A STORY:</span></strong></em><span> </span><strong><em><span>Get your breaking news and exclusive stories first by following us across all platforms</span></em></strong><em><span>.</span></em></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><ul><li><em><strong><span>Download the 9NEWS App here via</span></strong></em><span> </span><a href="https://apps.apple.com/au/app/9news/id1010533727" target="" title=""><em><strong><span>Apple</span></strong></em></a><span> </span><em><strong><span>and</span></strong></em><span> </span><a href="https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=nineNewsAlerts.nine.com&amp;hl=en_AU&amp;pli=1" target="" title=""><em><strong><span>Google Play</span></strong></em></a></li><li><em><strong><span>Make 9News your preferred source on Google by</span></strong></em><span> </span><a href="https://9.nine.com.au/8x987w" target="" title=""><em><strong><span>ticking this box here</span></strong></em></a></li><li><em><strong><span>Sign up to</span></strong></em><span> </span><a href="https://login.nine.com.au/edm?client_id=nineatnine" target="" title=""><em><strong><span>our breaking newsletter here</span></strong></em></a></li></ul></div></div>