IT?MIGHT?BE?A?LITTLE?DIFFICULT to forget; but it is a whole lot easier to forgive.
And, the onus has obviously been placed on the shoulders of principal Jeff Broomes to set the tone at The Alexandra School – now that the ebullient and overly confident Mary Redman has given a little more than an inch.
But by what sacrifice has she? It seems only that of time.
The Barbados Secondary Teachers’ Union (BSTU) president, in beaming red as usual – with black polka dots for variety – announced that her striking Alexandra teachers were going back to work today because this was only stage one of the “corrective process”.
“The fact that we have agreed to this means that we know what is to come,” according to the Gospel of Mary.
“. . . The fact that we have gone back with the possibility of Mr Broomes still being in office means we are giving the process time to work . . . .”
A tad more than a mouthful in this whole Alexandra imbroglio.
Saith Mary unto the Press: “. . . We have faith in the goodwill negotiations and bargaining that took place over the weekend. We have no doubts that the Prime Minister will follow through as he has promised.”
What else promised is there to come that is select information among the Prime Minister, Mary and her attorney Hal Gollop that we others have no access to?
What was the barter between Mr Stuart and Mary and Hal?
Evidently, the Prime Minister was moved by those striking teachers who had broken down in tears before him over the weekend, as they told their tales of woe – of “abuses”.
Strikingly interesting, Mr Stuart declared that these teachers’ complaints were “consistent” with problems hinted at in an Inspection Report submitted to the ministry last year and in a board of management report as well.
And, the Prime Minister has elected to use the recommendations of the Inspection Report to carry out what must be done at The Alexandra School, so there can be some “genuine, long-term and enduring settlement” there.
What good does this revelation of reports do for the Ministry of Education and its minister?
Will the Prime Minister take similar corrective measures he has for Alexandra to deal with the inertia and disruptiveness in the Ministry of Education? If not for his perceived “interlopers”, for the children of Barbados?
And what is it with Mr Stuart’s nigh loss of memory over who chaired the special Ministerial Committee meeting – if indeed he had directed or mandated such a powwow?
While the Prime Minister, whatever else you may say, must be complimented for getting the teachers back into the classrooms, one cannot help but be bothered by his apparent one-sidedness. Having met with the BSTU thrice on the weekend, Mr Stuart now has this lot of ostensibly recanting teachers to be his new national heroes.
They were raring to get back to Alexandra – with Jeff Broomes – from Monday morning; the Prime Minister had to beg them to go today, they were so willing to work (because they know what is to come). The integrity and the commitment of them all to the children of Alexandra have become spotless!
The striking BSTU teachers deserve our forgiveness, but the Silent 22 who didn’t join them, and who stayed behind at school teaching and nurturing the nation’s children are worthy of praise too – even more. What does one have to do to get the Prime Minister’s full attention? Strike? Don’t attend Ministerial Committee meetings?
Let it not be misunderstood. Any natural action that brings a worthwhile decision is commendable; and in the matter of the teachers’ return to Alexandra’s classes, the Prime Minister did well. He failed however by not engaging all the stakeholders in the impasse – given all the talk about the management of people and development of human resources.
There is no circus, Mr Stuart. We have long left that to the political clowns among us.
Meanwhile you, sir, Mary and Hal may expect from Mr Broomes forbearance, patience and a heartful more of tolerance. I would be disappointed with anything less.
