Dear Readers

On 7 October 2008, whilst standing in line waiting to enter the school after the lunch hour, my son was involved in an altercation with another male student. As the Head of Year approached she said she heard my son use indecent language whilst being confrontational.

My son was suspended from school for three days (actually two as Friday, 10 October was a teachers’ conference) for the first time in his school life. The other student WAS NOT. By all accounts (from fellow students who thought it was unfair that my son was being suspended) the other student started the confrontation. The other student, because he was able to see her approaching, was able to contain himself whilst my son did not as his back was turned her.

As parents we discussed our son’s behaviour with him and also advised him that the next time an occasion arises for a fight, walk away as he does not know who is armed, diseased, etc.

On 4 November 2008, when I picked my son up for lunch he told me was being suspended for one week for fighting. He proceeded to tell me what had happened during a class session with personnel from the dental unit and the ensuing fight. I went to the school right after lunch with him to find out what had actually transpired. At the school, I met with the Head of Year (as the Deputy Principal could not meet with me), the other student involved in the fight along with my son.

As told by my son and the student he fought with, during the session my son used the word sloppy in a verbal exchange with another student. The student he fought with who was not involved in their exchange, asked him what word he used there and he repeated the word sloppy. The student then said to him sloppy like your mother, my son in turn told him sloppy like his mother (this was also confirmed). The student then told my son to wait until he get outside (this was confirmed by the student in the presence of the Head of Year, my son and I). When they went outside, the student approached my son and asked him what he say now. An altercation ensued but ended because my son walked away and went downstairs. The student, not satisfied, went downstairs and provoked another altercation by pushing him in his back starting a bigger fight. This fight was broken up by a teacher.

The Head of Year told me she had also investigated the incident and learnt that it was a girl (name called) who had shouted that the teeth being viewed looked like the student’s teeth (this is the boy my son fought with).

The student even though he was not involved in the verbal exchange between my son and and the other student, said he thought my son was talking to him when he heard him use the word sloppy (this he confirmed in the meeting).

I then turned to the student and asked him why he had gone downstairs and provoked another fight after my son had walked away. He responded by saying he thought he got the last lick that’s why he did it.
I then turned to the Head of Year and I told her that I did not think it was fair for my son to be suspended for one week for a fight he tried to walk away from. She then proceeded to tell me that because my son fought back and did not make a report instead, he would be suspended because that was the rule for fighting and both parties would have to get the same punishment.

On 5 November 2008, a PTA meeting was held in the auditorium at Campus B. Before going in to the meeting I got an opportunity to speak with the Deputy Principal who was standing on the outside about the incident and my son’s subsequent suspension. She also told me that because my son fought back and did not report the matter he would have to serve the suspension. I told her this was unfair as he tried to walk away from the fight.
I then asked her how it was that my son was being suspended for a fight he tried to walk away from when a senior teacher at the school whose daughter was involved in a fight just before graduation in which school property was damaged, was not suspended and was even allowed to graduate despite the school rules. (One of the school’s rules is that fighters will not graduate. Let me also mention here that in that incident the other girl involved in the fight was not suspended either, because to suspend her would mean suspension for that teacher’s daughter also). She informed me that she had nothing to do with what goes on at Campus A, at Campus B once you get involved in a fight you get suspended.

Now I know for a fact that Albena Lake-Hodge Comprehensive School, Campus A and B, is one school governed by the same rules and regulations. The only separation is the location of the buildings, which is not even a factor now with the new entrances and exits, which allows for easy access and walk-through to both campuses.

At Parents/Teachers Meetings we are told/reminded that suspensions and the like are recorded on the students’ files. Hence, we as parents are very concerned. Is it fair that a fight my son tried to walk from be attached to his record and the teacher’s daughter who was also involved in a fight have an incident-free record? In the case of the teacher’s daughter there was no suspension applied hence there is none to be recorded on file. Is this the fair and just manner in which rules and regulations ought to be applied? NO it is not!

Needless to say, at the moment, as parents we are concerned by the inconsistency with regards to the application of the school rules, specific to the rules of suspension in this case.

At the PTA meeting held on the 5 November 2008, I again raised my concern in the meeting. My concern was addressed by another senior teacher, who said in essence, that maybe my son’s previous incident was taken into consideration in the authorities ruling for my son’s suspension. She also said that maybe the fight the teacher’s child was involved in was her first in her five years at the school. (She obviously knew what I was referring to). In my son’s first incident, which I called an altercation previously because they were not both physical with each other at the time of reprimand, he was suspended.
My reason for bringing this matter to the public is to highlight the inconsistencies and the unfair treatment meted to our children in the school system. Any other parents who have had this unfair treatment meted out to their children should also speak out (someone will hear) and/or write out (someone will read)! As parents we have to recognise and find ways and means to help our children deal with incidences of violence and/or behavioural problems but at the same time we should not just leave them hanging in the scales of injustice and not speak out for them when they are dealt with unfairly.

Just there in February 2008 when the Anguilla Debating Team went to St Kitts to take part in the debates, a student from the Anguillian delegation was found to be in possession of marijuana. On the delegation’s return, the other students from the delegation documented their concern and forwarded it to all the authorities, and nothing was done in the form of disciplinary action towards this student (as was said let her maintain her reputation). It was ”packed and sealed”. If this had been my child or yours do you think the outcome would be the same? I say no way!

In light of the growing incidences of violence in schools, of course as parents we would endeavour to support the school in its efforts to stamp out or at least curtail these incidences of violence and behavioural problems. However, as the saying goes what is good for the goose is good for the gander. For the parents, the school system and the society at large to work together effectively in all matters of rules and laws, they have to be applied fairly and equally. In our case the question is why was our son suspended and not the teacher’s daughter? Is that fair and equal treatment? No.

In light of the rising cases of violence of schools, it is very important that the powers that be ensure that rules and regulations be applied to everyone equally and fairly, and not according to ‘who is who’ or ‘who belong to who’, if we are really looking for positive change, to help and support of the parents and society at large!
Concerned Parent

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