Bristol teacher who admitted using crack cocaine to continue teaching
A MATHS teacher who admitted using crack cocaine fell asleep during lessons, a hearing was told.
William Horseman was teaching at the Ridings High School, Winterbourne, at the time he was using the class-A drug.
The hearing was told he also:
-Failed to attend a summer school on one day on 2007;
-Failed to attend two registration sessions in September 2007;
-Dismissed some Year 12 and Year 13 classes early and left the school premises before the end-of-lesson bell;
-Fell asleep during a trip to Bristol Zoo.
Mr Horseman admitted one count of unacceptable professional conduct at a hearing of the General Teaching Council (GTC) in Birmingham on Thursday. But the panel decided he would be allowed to continue as a teacher. It imposed a conditional registration order which will stay on his record for two years. Since Mr Horseman left the school, he has been teaching at the £23-million Merchants' Academy in Withywood, the newest of the Government's 47 privately sponsored academies.
He was found to be a user of crack cocaine after an incident in a Bristol flat where he had his car stolen. After calling the police, he admitted to them that he used the drug.
Mr Horseman, who taught at the Ridings for 25 years and who was not represented at the hearing, said he "had learnt his lesson" and wanted to move forward with his life and rebuild his reputation.
Presenting officer Andrew Faux said to Mr Horseman "you don't fit an obvious crack cocaine user" and asked him why he used the drug.
Mr Horseman replied: "I was unhappy at home, I wanted to get out. Nobody has ever caught me doing it, the only reason is I admitted it.
"I'm not proud, I'm ashamed and I've learnt a lesson from it. There is no real justification."
He said at the time he felt as low as he could possibly feel: "The low being the realisation of doing something you shouldn't have done."
Mr Horseman also told the committee he had only taken the class-A drug half a dozen times over three to four months in 2006. He said he had six counselling sessions in the months following March 2006. When asked by a committee member how he could stop taking such an addictive drug, Mr Horseman said the situation he found himself in was an incentive.
He said: "I stopped using it after what had happened, had no wish or desire to carry on, the situation frightened me."
When asked by committee chairman Aaron King about the effect on his pupils, he said there was an effect, but it was an "isolated occurrence" and not an acceptable thing to do as a teacher.
He said: "I've learned to be very grateful. I appreciate the severity of what's happened."
Passing sanction Mr King said: "The use of crack cocaine, a class-A drug, by any member of the teaching profession is completely unacceptable.
"Mr Horseman had frankly admitted taking crack cocaine on a number of occasions, he has explained to us how once the matter came to the attention of the police in March 2006 – he ceased any further use.
"Nevertheless this was inappropriate conduct at the relevant time and brings the profession into disrepute and undermines public confidence in teachers.
"We have taken into consideration in reaching our decision on sanction the candour in accepting his past failings during the relevant period and his frank admissions to us today, the various stressful circumstances in his personal life at the time, the lack of support the committee perceived for Mr Horseman from the school in the relevant period and his feelings of professional isolation.
"We accept his assurance that such conduct will not be repeated."
"We have decided, given the seriousness of the matters proved, a period of further monitoring of Mr Horseman's teaching progress is appropriate.
"We have therefore decided to impose a conditional order."
The conditions of the order specify that three times per year he will provide to the teaching council a report from his employer confirming satisfactory conduct.
It will remain in place for two years.
120 Comments
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by Lynda Mitchard, bristol
Monday, February 23 2009, 8:22PM
“We are very proud to say Mr Horseman taught our 3 children at the ridings...He is a fantastic teacher and very supportive. we are pleased he gave their support. What Merchants Accademy Withywood gain is The Ridings loss.
Lynda and Glenn Mitchard”
by Gazza, Bedminster
Monday, February 23 2009, 5:16PM
“I am glad Mr Horseman has been allowed to carry on teaching, I have never met him, but he would appear to be an excellent teacher, who has the full support of Stphen Kings.
I hope the school provide him with the support that he may need, teaching is a dreadfully stressful job.
Finally to Mike Bristol, please try to understand that other people make mistakes, it does not make them "bad" people who should be punished. I am sure that the humilation Mr Horseman has felt in the last week is beyond what any decent person, trying serve their community by teaching in a difficult school, deserves.”
by kris, bristol
Monday, February 23 2009, 12:44PM
“A genuinely great teacher, which is a rare thing. the level of support he has from ex pupils reflects this - I'd struggle to think of another teacher who would receive such respect in the same situation. Mr Horseman i and many many others salute you and wish you the best.”
by Suzanne, Gloucester
Monday, February 23 2009, 9:54AM
“Well, I've read most of the comments on here, good and bad and all I can say is that Mr Horseman was my maths teacher from 1985 to 1990 and what a fantastic teacher he was!!! He did take time to explain things and he always encouraged you. How many of us would actually want to be teachers today, its got to be a stressful job, AND BEFORE SOMEONE JUMPS ON MY BACK, I am not saying that is an excuse for taking drugs but before everyone has a go at him for doing it why don't people stop and think - do we live in his house? Do we know exactly what was going on his life that made him feel the need to turn to drugs? No we don't and therefore we should just leave well alone. Talk about kick a man whilst he is down!!! It is outrageous that everybody feels the need to judge him when they a) probably have never met Mr Horseman b) know very little about him except what has been published in the paper or c) have never sat through one of his lessons to realise what a fantastic teacher he is.
I am not saying that his taking drugs is right, of course it wasn't, but he owned up to it, he held his hands up and was prepared to take whatever was thrown at him. He didn't get caught out and is now pleading for his job, he came forward and owned up. My children are still in primary school but when they go to senior school I can say hand on heart that I would be more than happy for Mr Horseman to teach them! Now all you people in glass houses please stop throwing stones and let him get on with his life!!”
by Pupil at Merchants, Bristol
Sunday, February 22 2009, 3:55PM
“If you did not wan't us finding out about it, then you could partly blame Evening Post for publishing the artcile in the first place as this is where we found out about it in the first place. Also, I don't think a second chance should be given in this place, what would happen if all teachers got a second chance where drugs were involved.”
by Mike, Bristol
Sunday, February 22 2009, 12:20PM
“All you people that back this guy, I have to ask,would you if you had your own business employ an ex crack taker. If you had kids and needed a nanny, would you employ an ex crack taker, I hope you would as you don't mind letting him be in charge of others kids.
If you have answered yes to the above, I take my hat off to you. If you've answered no, and you can't lie to yourself, you're hypocrites.”
by Mr Happy, Bristol
Sunday, February 22 2009, 12:04PM
“Loads of comments, lets summerise in a fair way.
People who work in certain jobs have a massive reponsibilty to act and conduct themseves in a certain manner for a variety of reasons. I think teachers fall in this catogory.
People desreve second chances, yes we all belive that.
Would his actions cause harm to a child. In fariness I think yes. When I was young and had trouble making the right choices, I would have looked at a teacher and thought he has done it, so it must be ok. Very harmful.
Does this teacher getting away with it, act as a good deterrant to others. No
Our children are precious and we all want different things for them. So a teacher needs to be pretty straight as we trust our kids to them and we need to have the utmost confience to do that.
These are facts and many people here will say, second chance forgive and move on.
Many will say no place for him in a responsible job.
I know one thing, I think the country is on a moral decline for many reasons, the main one being, de-sensitisation of rules and values, maty be our attitudes are to blame and the freedom we now have, may well be our downfall.
One things for sure, he must never do it again. If he does he must go.”
by Pupil of Ridings, Frampton Cotterell
Sunday, February 22 2009, 11:09AM
“In reply to this utter nonsence 'I do not want that moron teaching my son or daughter in any way, will he teach them how to use Crack!!! Tony, Bristol commented on 21-Feb-2009 16:14
LOL!!! Ignorance ... your acting like his lessons were all about cocaine rofl!!! ... Sounds like you need to go back to school and you're meant to be an adult ... two words ... grow up! =]”
by student of merchants academy, Bristol x
Sunday, February 22 2009, 12:27AM
“i would just like 2 say mr horseman is a really sound teacher and people should bk off for a little bit because no body is perfect every body makes mastakes in life and we all have r ways of goin about things and if u want to be hypicritical go ahead but if u no mr horseman he oviustly(cant spell it :O)had his resions!!and he is surportive to me so i will be surportive back!! mr horseman i will bak u up 100%”
by Tom, Withywood
Sunday, February 22 2009, 12:06AM
“Mr horseman turning 2 drugs aint a gd thing to but fair play owning up we all make mastakes in life people bk off him for abit no body is perfect!! frm tom :)”