JUST over 30 teachers maintained their position of not going to the Alexandra School for the yesterday start of the school term as a result of their grouse with the principal, Jeff Broomes.
Instead, they made their way to the Barbados Secondary Teachers’ Union (BSTU) headquarters in 8th Ave Belleville as they planned their next course of action, should the Ministry of Education not respond favourably to their concerns which one teacher noted began almost one decade ago.
Head of the organisation, Mary Redman, told the media that the frustrated group, which also includes members of the support staff, are no longer able to work under his leadership and, to this end, are calling for his separation from the school.
“We are looking in very short order to have a meeting of our full membership before the end of the week so that they can be apprised of what has happened thus far. From there on, they, in keeping with the resolution that we passed at the last such meeting, will be involved in the general withdrawal of our services at all our schools at which BSTU members work,” she assured.
“So that will be our next course of action if we do not get what we need to get from the Ministry of Education. And I want to reiterate that what we are calling for is a separation of the principal from the Alexandra School. The staff has lost confidence. Given his managerial style, they feel that they can no longer work with him in his capacity as principal; they can no longer work with him in any capacity at the school,” she asserted.
Redman, along with other BSTU officials, made the point that the precedent has been already set relative to former principal of the Coleridge and Parry (CP) School, Hallam King, in an identical situation.
“Why is the principal of Alexandra School being treated different from the principal of CP who committed the same act in 1995 and was dealt with completely differently as to how they are presently dealing with the principal of the Alexandra school?” Redman queried.
Addressing the comment made by Broome about a member of staff during the school’s Speech Day on December 2, 2010, the BSTU head said that if the statement is accurate, it is an indictment on him as a principal.
“When the principal accuses someone of not having gone to class for a whole term, what did he do to deal with that problem? And the Ministry of Education, having heard that, what did they do to find out what he did to resolve that problem? Did he make any reports about this to the Ministry as he should have?
“We are not even dealing with the accuracy of what he said, but even based on what he said it is a greater indictment on him and on the Ministry of Education than on any teacher. That as instructional teacher what did you to make sure that “children that you love”…what did you do to ensure that they were being taught. Did you report this teacher?” she queried.
Redman said the teachers will return to the BSTU headquarters today if there has been no favourable response from the powers that be. Additionally, she stated members of the Alexandra Parent Teachers’ Association and the Old Scholars’ Association are invited to the next emergency meeting so that they can hear firsthand accounts from the teachers. The date, time and location of this meeting will be announced shortly, she said.
There are approximately 450 teachers represented by the BSTU. (JH)
(Source http://www.barbadosadvocate.com/newsitem.asp?more=local&NewsID=21918)
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