Sunday Times

Teacher’s ‘blow’ to pupil rocks premier school

- By PREGA GOVENDER

● As Child Protection Week was being observed this week, a deputy headmaster of the country’s most expensive boys’ preparator­y school was placed on precaution­ary suspension for allegedly hitting a Grade 6 pupil on the back.

The Sunday Times has establishe­d that Chris Verster, deputy head for operationa­l matters and discipline at The Ridge School in Johannesbu­rg, where tuition fees for Grade 3 to 7 pupils this year are R119 550, allegedly hit the boy during a lesson on Tuesday.

The boy, the son of a popular radio presenter, is said to have burst into tears after the incident.

According to a parent, who informed the Sunday Times about the incident, the blow left red marks on the boy’s back.

Principal Richard Stanley confirmed in a statement to the Sunday Times that “in view of the seriousnes­s of the matter”, the teacher was placed on precaution­ary suspension on Wednesday.

When the school was notified about the incident, it immediatel­y conducted a preliminar­y investigat­ion, including meeting the pupil, his parents and the teacher, he said.

“The teacher has indicated that he did not intentiona­lly hit the learner concerned. The school has appointed an independen­t senior counsel to chair a disciplina­ry hearing into the allegation­s, which will take place early next week.

“Until that process is finalised, it would be inappropri­ate for us to comment further on the matter.”

He said the school’s mission statement made it clear that the foundation of education provided to boys at the school “rests on instilling respect and tolerance among all of its learners and educators. Corporal punishment has no place at The Ridge and is inconsiste­nt with our approach to teaching.”

In a letter to parents, Stanley said the teacher was alleged to have “cuffed” the boy. “Needless to say, this is a particular­ly delicate, sensitive and highly emotive issue and I would ask parents not to add fuel to the fire by getting involved in unnecessar­y and unhelpful gossip, damaging speculatio­n and loose talk.”

A parent said he was outraged and disgusted by the teacher’s action, adding: “Any form of corporal punishment is illegal.”

The boy’s father did not respond to an e-mail seeking his reaction.

The school said that it had received an email from the teacher’s lawyer advising him not to speak to the press.

Prior to his appointmen­t at The Ridge School in May 2016, Verster was the head of pastoral care at Rondebosch Boys’ Preparator­y School in Cape Town.

The teacher has indicated he did not intentiona­lly hit the learner concerned

Richard Stanley

Principal of The Ridge School

 ??  ?? Chris Verster, a deputy head at The Ridge.
Chris Verster, a deputy head at The Ridge.

Newspapers in English

Newspapers from South Africa