The Tribune

By EARYEL BOWLEG

Tribune Staff Reporter

ebowleg@tribunemedia.net

SOME CV Bethel High School teachers engaged in a sit-out after an incident involving a student fight that culminated in an argument with a teacher.

Bahamas Union of Teachers President Belinda Wilson claimed that when her union’s area vice president visited the school to address safety concerns, he was denied entry, prompting the teachers to leave their classrooms and sit outside.

Ms Wilson said two girls attacked another girl on Monday. She claimed one of the attackers used profanity towards a teacher.

“Not only did she threaten the teacher, but she also cursed them about her private parts,” she said. “She had to be restrained from trying to attack the teacher. The school police dealt with the matter, and the school police had to call for backup.”

“So the teachers requested a meeting. They wrote a complaint of the list of concerns for their principal about safety on CV Bethel campus and the state or the lack thereof of discipline for the students, so teachers held a series of meetings to discuss their safety in their workplace.”

Mrs Wilson said the union vice president attempted to visit the school, as stipulated in the teachers’ industrial agreement, but was locked out. Consequently, teachers met him at the gate.

Education Director Dominique McCartney-Russell denied that anyone was denied access to the school. She added that the principal met with the union’s shop steward to understand the issue. She said the ministry wanted all sides to adhere to the grievance process, which includes writing official reports outlining issues.

“The principal has five days to respond to their concerns, and if their concerns are not met with satisfaction, then at the district level, we asked our district superintendent to support them, to mediate so that the issues could be resolved and we could have educational opportunities not being hindered in any way,” she said.