Gumleaf
October 3rd, 2008, 08:43 PM
09:45 AEST Sat Oct 4 2008
Parents and school groups say they are outraged at news a primary school principal let controversial artist Bill Henson scour the playground for child models.
An exhibition by Henson was pulled from the walls of a Sydney art gallery in May, when police considered but did not lay charges over the show which included images of a naked 12-year-old girl.
In a book by journalist David Marr, Henson says the girl and her family remain strong supporters of the photographic work and he only regretted the public furore it had caused.
In it he also said a Melbourne primary school principal agreed to let him wander the playground at lunch time searching for suitable subjects for his controversial artwork.
Schools, parent groups and principals have told News Limited newspapers they are alarmed and angered at the revelations.
The president of the Australian Primary Principals Association, Leonie Trimper, said parents should have been warned in advance.
"Primary schools are not showcases for the public to come in and choose students for their own personal projects," she said.
Gail McHardy, the executive officer of Parents Victoria, said if model agencies ever visited the school they had to be accompanied.
"In my experience they're not given the opportunity to walk around in the playground to procure their subject models," Ms McHardy said.
Liberal Senator Bill Heffernan on Friday called the Victorian principal's actions the "ultimate betrayal of trust".
"Every child should have an unconditional guarantee of safe passage through school," he said. "For a school principal to take a deliberate decision (to allow) a commercial photographer to trawl through the schoolyard is unforgivable."
Parents and school groups say they are outraged at news a primary school principal let controversial artist Bill Henson scour the playground for child models.
An exhibition by Henson was pulled from the walls of a Sydney art gallery in May, when police considered but did not lay charges over the show which included images of a naked 12-year-old girl.
In a book by journalist David Marr, Henson says the girl and her family remain strong supporters of the photographic work and he only regretted the public furore it had caused.
In it he also said a Melbourne primary school principal agreed to let him wander the playground at lunch time searching for suitable subjects for his controversial artwork.
Schools, parent groups and principals have told News Limited newspapers they are alarmed and angered at the revelations.
The president of the Australian Primary Principals Association, Leonie Trimper, said parents should have been warned in advance.
"Primary schools are not showcases for the public to come in and choose students for their own personal projects," she said.
Gail McHardy, the executive officer of Parents Victoria, said if model agencies ever visited the school they had to be accompanied.
"In my experience they're not given the opportunity to walk around in the playground to procure their subject models," Ms McHardy said.
Liberal Senator Bill Heffernan on Friday called the Victorian principal's actions the "ultimate betrayal of trust".
"Every child should have an unconditional guarantee of safe passage through school," he said. "For a school principal to take a deliberate decision (to allow) a commercial photographer to trawl through the schoolyard is unforgivable."