A Colchester teacher has been suspended for his work as youth officer for the Pagan Federation.

Ralph Morse, 44, who teaches music and drama at Shenfield High School, near Brentwood, was suspended last Monday on full pay after an article about him appeared in a national newspaper.

Mr Morse, who lives with his wife Carole in Colchester, was appointed a youth officer for the Pagan Federation last year, although under-18s are banned from joining.

Mrs Morse, who is also a pagan and a priestess of Isis, said she thought his suspension was "discrimination" and described it as "ludicrous".

Mr Morse is due to meet a representative of his teachers' union today and Colchester MP Bob Russell pledged to raise his case with Education Secretary David Blunkett after the couple visited his surgery.

Mrs Morse said: "The headmaster has known for five years to my knowledge that he is a pagan."

She said he was also informed that her husband had become a youth officer for the pagans.

She said she wrote a play about Matthew Hopkins, the 17th century witch hunter from Mistley, which was put on at the school.

She added: "England is a signatory to the Bill of Human Rights that said people should have their own religious beliefs."

Pete Jennings, president of the Pagan Federation, which has 5,000 members, said: "I am shocked that anybody in charge of any school should take such an unhelpful attitude. My own feeling is that he should be proud that somebody is taking a national position."

He said the post of youth officer was voluntary and Mr Morse was picked against strong competition because he was a teacher. He added police vetted him for the post and the police would have contacted his workplace to do this.

Shenfield High headteacher John Fairhurst said: "A teacher's private activities, are, of course, his private activities. However, there is now no doubt that this man's private interests are now impinging upon the school.

"The member of staff has been suspended from school pending an investigation into the extent of his activities and his professional role. Now that the matter is one of staff discipline that must be resolved fairly and properly by a full hearing of governors. It would be inappropriate for me to comment any further."

He said the school was aware of its duty to educate children in accordance with the spiritual, moral and cultural expectations of parents.

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