A?parent whose 14-year-old son has been on suspension from school for the past five weeks wants to know if the Ministry of Education is monitoring the punishments meted out by principals.
Regina Whittaker’s son was sent home indefinitely from the Alma Parris School on the second day of the school term after he was accused of stealing another child’s “boombox” – a small radio which is popular among children and which retails for $35 and up.
On Monday, the mother went to the Ministry of Education to enquire why her son could not return to school. She said she was told that he could only be suspended for 10 days and that she should take him back to school immediately.
However, Whittaker said when she took the boy to school yesterday morning principal Valdez Francis refused to let him in unless she was given a letter by the ministry.
Upset and frustrated, Whittaker said that she felt as if she was being turned around while her son’s education was in jeopardy.
