Is it possible that so much could have gone so terribly wrong at a school that has always avoided controversy and has, especially in the last decade, fulfilled its motto in reaching for the stars?
As I watch the debacle between Alexandra principal Jeff Broomes and the Barbados Secondary Teachers’ Union (BSTU) unfold, I’m alarmed to see teachers – some of whom I have known for years, who have never been even slightly inclined toward any form of public protest, and whose priority was to ensure that their students excelled in and beyond the classroom – gesticulating in anger. They have had enough, even if it has meant leaving their students unattended.
Even more shocking was the reported action of the veteran female teacher at the centre of this protest: schooled at Alexandra, teaching generations of students at her beloved Speightstown institution, but now strongly criticized by the principal for “refusing to teach”.
It doesn’t get much stranger than that for, as I recall the legendary Harry Sealy, who also attended and taught at his alma mater for his entire working life, even imagining him refusing to teach any of his students would be the essence of a nightmare.
What therefore could have led a stalwart of Alexandra to such drastic action, as alleged by the embattled principal in his December 2 address at the school’s awards ceremony?
And what could have led nearly 30 of the other teachers, whose yeoman efforts guided students to exceptional Caribbean Examinations Council (CXC) results of 74 and 82 per cent in the last five years, to stop teaching?
According to Broomes, a copy of whose speech was obtained by the DAILY NATION, he was most disturbed and distressed that one senior teacher – who is at the centre of this BSTU-led strike – had gone through “an entire term refusing to teach a class of fourth form students who were assigned to her”.
He added: “Not only did this bad precedent take place but when I spoke to her, she also said to me on both occasions ‘I am not teaching them!’ These children at the onset of their CXC programme were compromised in this manner.”
I would sincerely like to hear this teacher’s story but since she and the union have so far declined to identify her publicly, I must respect that, but I feel constrained to ask from this forum: what would cause a seasoned and dedicated educator to turn his or her back on such young charges?
And I must ask the BSTU and others observing: if any of them were in Broomes’ position, and had spoken to the teacher in question and to the Ministry of Education on the matter – without resolution – what else could Broomes have done for the sake of the disadvantaged children on the threshold of exam time?
But if there was ever proof to the adage that “two wrongs don’t make a right”, it is this still-unfolding situation.
The first wrong was that a veteran teacher took a stand that would have massively compromised her students, even if she felt she could no longer function in the environment at Alexandra School.
The second wrong was Broomes’ public act of criticizing her, which went against the grain of the Barbados Union of Teachers’ (BUT) rules, as spelt out in its handbook, inter alia: “I shall never censure or criticize other teachers or their work in the hearing of students. . . . ”
The third wrong was the almost-immediate strike of the BSTU in pulling most of its staff from Alexandra and, based on a statement from the Ministry of Education Friday, not thoroughly following the grievance-handling procedure.
And if this matter bears no hint of resolution by tomorrow, students nationwide will suffer as a result of nearly all BSTU members withdrawing their services at all older secondary schools, some newer institutions, the Barbados Community College and the Samuel Jackman Prescod Polytechnic. Yet another wrong!
All this – compromising students’ education in a critical exam year, ruining the reputation of Alexandra School, destroying the teaching career of yet another principal after the uncannily similar situation of Coleridge and Parry principal Hallam King 15 years ago – feels innately wrong. All this just to remove one man?
The ministry, through its minister and not only its permanent secretary who made the statement regarding the grievance procedure Friday, has to step into this national crisis quickly lest it escalates into parents-students’ action; which would be another wrong.
Sadly, if this situation is ever “righted”, it will leave behind a trail of frustrated children and a sour taste for whoever wins this near-decade-long period of animosity between the BSTU and Broomes.
And education in Barbados will be much poorer for it.
