Parents of North Eleuthera High School Protest For A Second Day

Shock expressed at national headlines and requests repeated for meeting with Minister of Education.

(Lower Bogue, North Eleuthera) - It was a second day of determination in North Eleuthera as the peaceful protest continued by over 50 parents of the North Eleuthera High School.

Incensed by national headlines and printed stories, many of those present on Monday were even more adamant that the Minister of Education, Hon. Desmond Bannister, come to North Eleuthera to meet with them and address their concerns.

There was legitimate shock at what was published on the front page of a national daily about the students of the community, by parents of the students in that community. “Did you see what was said on the evening news last night?” was a question thrown at us by another resident with tears in her eyes. “They don’t respect us here in Bogue,” said another.

This all started on Monday when protestors asked their children to stay home and they, the parents, showed up to school in objection to an abrupt transfer order sent late on Friday January 22, 2010 to the principal of the school, directing her to report to Preston Albury High in Rock Sound, South Eleuthera on Monday.

The transfer was one of a number of surprising moves that were sent directly from Nassau, bypassing the local officials at the District Education Office in Savannah Sound. They included, the Principal of Rock Sound, Mr. Kirkwood Cleare, filling the role of District Education Officer, while a 36 month vacation leave was announced for the sitting DEO., Mr. Rudolph Smith. The Senior Mistress of North Eleuthera, Ms. Collins was asked to transfer to Harbour Island All Age School, Mr. Frank Jones, the Principal of Spanish Wells All Age to North Eleuthera High and the Senior Mistress of Spanish Wells, Mrs. Higgs, to assume the role of Principal.

The PTA of the North Eleuthera High School supported by many parents and residents in the Bogue community, mounted opposition to the transfer in the form of protests and there was a very strong undercurrent through the crowd that the move was more than a typical transfer.

Parents turn their backs to the meeting with Education officials after Minister says he cannot meet with them for another week.

The situation on the ground further mushroomed when Hon. Desmond Bannister took to the airwaves and suggested the shift within Education on the island was being driven by a need to ‘protect’ the students of North Eleuthera. This sentiment was pounced upon by news organizations who subsequently published salacious headlines and shocking claims at times seemingly muddling a number of facts, or so it was viewed by many on the grounds of the North Eleuthera High School.

There was anger in the voice and pain in the eyes of some parents who expressed concern about the labels being cast on the children by what was being reported. Parents met with a representative of the Ministry of Education on Tuesday, which ended without any progress. The Eleutheran was informed that officials in the meeting pressed for the parents to end their sit-in and allow their children to return while promising a meeting with the Minister.

When however parents pushed for timing on the meeting, the official left to make a phone call to Nassau. He re-entered the talks which were quite cordial to that point, and upon his announcement that the meeting would not occur for another week, the parents walked out. Their primary demand is that the Minister respect their wishes for the Principal, who they respect and admire, to remain at the school. Persons present in the meeting said that it was acknowledged that the Principal had overseen in her first term at the school, significant increases in grades.

Parents also described to The Eleutheran several ways in which she directly assisted students and helped to bring an improved level of discipline at the school. There were many sources who suggested to The Eleutheran that there was a deliberate attempt made by a specific few to mislead the Minister, with the hope of achieving the result of having the Principal removed. One parent added, “If one person can cause her to be removed, why can’t a community cause her to remain?” Meanwhile the Minister of Education has indicated that there may be information that everyone is not aware of. The burning questions are, what is this information and when will parents be informed? Additionally why are parents and teachers so unaware of the allegations levied?

The Speaker of the House of Assembly and Member of Parliament for North Eleuthera, Alvin Smith travelled to the community on Tuesday evening to meet with the PTA.

Parents vowed earlier in the day to continue their protest into Wednesday.