School probe after teachers’ Elf on the Shelf prank of ‘Santa’s helper snorting cocaine’
A SPECIAL needs school has launched an investigation after teachers posed an Elf on the Shelf smoking, drinking and snorting cocaine. Photos show the toy elves surrounded by beer cans and cigarettes, sitting by white powder lines with straws up their noses, on a desk in the Edinburgh school. The pictures showing Santa’s little helpers […]
A SPECIAL needs school has launched an investigation after teachers posed an Elf on the Shelf smoking, drinking and snorting cocaine.
Photos show the toy elves surrounded by beer cans and cigarettes, sitting by white powder lines with straws up their noses, on a desk in the Edinburgh school.
The pictures showing Santa’s little helpers up to no good were posted on a Whatsapp group by staff at Braidburn School last Thursday.
But the prank was not well received with one pupil support assistant complaining that the snaps were “disgusting”.
Now Robert Sinclair, from West Lothian, has said his job was axed after he reported the gag to the council’s whistleblower hotline.
Robert says senior staff at the school laughed it off as a “joke” but he believes it’s a lot more serious as he has seen close relatives battle cocaine addiction.
After refusing to back down, the 40-year-old has said his contract is now not being renewed as a result.
‘DRUG PANDEMIC’
He told The Daily Record: “Some people might think it’s not that serious, but this is happening on school grounds.
“Some pupils might have problems which come from their parents’ abuse of drugs.
“There’s a drug pandemic in Scotland. What’s their mindset to be doing this in school?
“The school is absolutely brilliant and I love the kids. But if I see something that’s wrong, I’ll say something.”
Elf on the Shelf usually sees parents placing the toy around their home in different spots in the run-up to Christmas.
The dad-of-two said the photos were deleted and he was removed from the group chat after he outlined his concerns in the group chat where teaching strategies were usually shared.
Robert reported the prank on Saturday and was asked to attend a mediation meeting at the school which accepts kids who have a range of issues, including autism and severe disabilities, on Monday.
He added: “It was with the headteacher and two deputy headteachers.
“One proceeded to tell me it was a joke and adults are allowed to have jokes between them.
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“I was told to go home because it was going to cause too much tension.”
A council spokeswoman said: “We take allegations of inappropriate behavior by teachers and school staff extremely seriously and are investigating this matter.”
Robert, who sold his electrical engineering firm more than a year ago to pursue teaching, said he had previously been offered a new contract but that has now been “withdrawn”.