EDITORIAL: Balaclava: a petulant response by teachers

The angry two-day protest staged by teachers, parents and students of the Balaclava High School was not the best way for teachers to highlight concerns over the appointment of a new principal. Since students look to their teachers for inspiration and guidance, this was not a great lesson in what is appropriate behaviour or how best to settle a grievance.

Civil action of this nature should only occur after all other avenues for dialogue are exhausted. The Jamaica Teachers' Association (JTA) is the most influential voice for education in the country and has ably represented its members for decades. There is plenty of anecdotal evidence to support the fact that the JTA's lobbying efforts have resulted in many reforms in our educational system. We feel that the concerns of the Balaclava High teachers should have been channelled through their union.

This protest, which deprived students of many hours of instruction, did not seem like a desperate cry for justice. Rather, it appeared to be a petulant response to the fact that their pick for principal did not get the job. Are the teachers suggesting that the new principal, Mrs Paula Miller-Foster, does not have the skills, educational qualifications, leadership ability and merit to become principal? Will she be given the support to make a success of the job, or will the staff undermine her efforts to prove a point?

chaining and padlocking gates

The protest action included the chaining and padlocking of the school gate and denying access to the administrative offices. If teachers were responsible for these actions, they forfeited their status as role models. Education Minister Andrew Holness warns of disciplinary action against those responsible for such behaviour and we believe he is right in insisting that the school board move to determine who were responsible, and discipline them. The leadership of the JTA is not happy about this directive, but they seem to forget that teachers are obliged to place the interests of their students above everything else.

It was not so long ago that Balaclava High, formerly a secondary school, was being highlighted for its progress since achieving high-school status in 2005. In a JIS feature, the existence of a disciplinary committee was credited for monitoring students' behaviour and keeping the peace on campus, while well-executed parenting seminars, which were well supported by parents, created a tight family atmosphere within the school community.

So what happened to kill off this spirit of community that existed at Balaclava? The worst thing that could happen is for those gains to be eroded. Most of what happened there earlier this week will likely have that effect, and worse, may even lead to weakening the foundation laid by the pioneers who were determined to make Balaclava High a standout among rural educational institutions.

Teachers must lead by example and classrooms must be learning centres instead of incubators for protest and confrontational learning. School protests, violence in schools and perpetual discontent of one sort or other clearly indicate a need for stability in our education system.

A way has to be found for all stakeholders to discuss, debate and listen to each other in order to find solutions to the myriad problems we face in our schools.

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