Let’s deal with petty educators
IT SEEMS being petty and unruly is a way of life for many principals and other school administrators in primary and secondary schools islandwide. There can be no other reason for their continued disobedience and unwillingness to follow established protocols and abide by laws, especially where punishments such as suspension and expulsion are concerned.
Every so often, thankfully, their tyranny in this regard is exposed in traditional and on social media. Usually, a parent or student emerges with a dreadful story about a ridiculously petty offence that their child has been draconianly punished for. Sadly, this level of exposure does not seem to affect them as their outrageous behaviour continues unabated. I suspect this is because of a culture of impunity in the education system which gives them protection.
It’s rather odd, though, that we talk so much about discipline and that ‘rules are rules’ but fail to field similar sentiments at our school administrators who seemingly feel they have been bestowed with some God-given power to do as they so desire, regardless of the effect or outcome.
On Sunday, December 30, 2018, The Gleaner carried a report about a distressed mother, Vanessa Todd, whose 13-year-old son was kicked out of Little London High School in Westmoreland since November for ‘using expletives while at school’. According to the news story, the distraught Vanessa visited the Child Protection and Family Services Agency (CPFSA) (formerly Child Development Agency) in the parish so they could intervene. She sadly did not get much assistance despite the gravity of the situation faced by her and her child. They, however, instructed her to take her son back to the school and remarked that they have had similar complaints about the principal before.
LACK OF ACCOUNTABILITY
Why on earth are these incidents allowed to happen repeatedly? These stories are too common. The lack of accountability in every case is telling.
That someone is an adult and has the privilege of setting the rules and regulations in an institution for children to abide by does not mean they should not set an example, be obedient and follow rules and regulations. Is it that because of their title they have some kind of immunity that the rest of us do not know about?
The veracity of the news report is unclear because the story did not include comments from the CPFSA, the school board or other relevant parties, but I am inclined to believe as the abuse of power to expel students is particularly commonplace.
I would like to think this is a matter for the Office of the Children’s Advocate to address. The last I checked a key responsibility is to hold duty bearers accountable to act in the best interest of the child.
These stories about dismissal are too prevalent. The rampant abuse of the rights of the children in our schools, in the care of teachers, principals, guidance counsellors and others, and their continued failure to act in their best interest is a serious matter that ought to be addressed.
The Ministry of Education, Youth & Information should move with alacrity to investigate this incident and conduct a thorough investigation to identify the tyrants who pose as school administrators who constantly make their own rules, failing to see how ridiculous they are, while meting out abuse to our children. Abuse by teachers and school administrators is too rampant for us to pretend everything is irie, mon. It’s time we get firm on them.