Letter to the Editor
Imported 'Disciplines' vs Cayman'sChristian Principles
Dear Sir:
Allow me a moment of your time as I informyou of a recent situation that I have been aware of.
First off I would like to take this opportunity to inform youthat a 15 year old child has recently been asked to leave TripleC School for a semester along with eleven other children in orderfor them to 'bring up' her grades. This has been explained toher and her family simply as a 'wake up' call for her and thatshe will be given the opportunity to return if she shows improvementat her school of attendance during this time.
The question that immediately comes to mind is "who in theworld came up with this drastic plan" and exactly what isthe purpose of this ingenious idea?
At this time I would like to inform you that at no time duringthe school year was this student or her family informed of herunstable status at Triple C School. It was not indicated at thebeginning of the school year, during the school year, nor at theend of the school year that there was the possibility of my child'snon-absence of protocol at this time?
Mr. Dave Berry, Triple C's Principal in his lame attempt to explainthis "plan" - his expressed to my child and myself (hermother), his love for this child and his desire to see her succeed.It surprises me that he would feel that this decision to dismissmy child from Triple c School would seem fair to him when at notime this was discussed with the student or her parents. His expressionsof love and desire for her success also comes as a surprise ashe has chosen her to be one of his "guinea pigs" inthis new scheme of his that he boldly admitted to having spearheaded.
What I am wondering is what kind of punishment is rationed outon such a level. I also want to know what type of punishment shamesa student, a "good child", into being dismissed froma school for a semester; as opposed to making that student repeatthe previous grade, or finding other ways while, still in attendanceto be given the opportunity to bring u her grades?
Lastly I want to know what type of institution or school thatpromotes Creative christian Character as their notoriety can justifysuch an act of heartless, merciless exhibition. What disturbsme the most is, that this type of action would be acceptable fromthis same school that represent christianity at all times.
Even when an adult is dismissed from a job there are certain stepsthat need be followed before a decision of dismissal can be determined.At best, an employee is given a written warning, on more thanone occasion, before any such dismissal can take place and theemployer is not found guilty of any form of discrimination.
What interests me is why the option of my child repeating herformer grade was not even considered as opposed to her being dismissedfrom school. I mean after all this child who is not involved indelinquent or questionable behaviours that merit such a drasticdecision. Which brings me to the question of which school dismissesa student for one semester to "bring up" their grades?
Allow me to paint a scenario for you to ponder and consider:
Poor mother struggling to meet school fees of CI$400.00 per month.A student by far not a star student but has potential. Studenthas been exhibiting bouts of grade decline, but manages to catchup and come up to speed and has not been informed during thosetimes of grade decline that dismissal from school could be a possibilityat any time. Student and parents have not been informed of opportunityfor dismissal. This student is well behaved, for the most part,and liked among school faculty, staff and student body. However,student's mother did ask for allowances to be made in terms ofpayment arrangements as school fees go.
Principal comes up with scheme that announces at the end of theyear with no warning throughout the year, that student, alongwith eleven students in the same 'situation', will not be allowedto attend school in the fall for one term as her grades were notup to par. Principal informs student and parent of his love forstudent and desire to see her succeed but as a 'wake-up call'will not allow her to attend school until she shows him that sheis "worthy" of this chance. (Note: it was directly aftera conversation with parent pertaining to summer school arrangements).I pray that the point is well received at this time.
I also want to point out that as a Caymanian, it bothers me thatwe live in a place where it appears that discrimination is beingintroduced on all levels and is ignored at times and goes unnoticedat other times. I also want to say that if Triple "C"stands for Cash, Cash, Cash, then that needs to be clear fromthe onset. Poor, island people are struggling to send their childrento this school that promotes such elite-ness an offers such ahigh level of education, (or so we are made to believe) but arein fact discriminated against in such deceitful ways.
This whole situation is that the real reason for dismissal wasnot indicated, and a student is allowed to be the scapegoat inan effort to cover up the real reasoning behind this brilliantplan thought up by the new principal, Mr. Berry.
What I want to know is how many of those other students that weredismissed are in the same 'situation' as my child, island childrenthat do not come from prominent families on the island. I wouldalso be interested in knowing how a thing as using this childas a scapegoat, be excused after it has been indicated on severaloccasions to Mr. Berry himself, that this particular child hasshown signs of depression? What about this child's innocence atnot being from a family of wealth it's not her fault is it?
Lastly, on this subject is that if I wanted to be blatantly discriminatedagainst for the colour of skin, my position of power, or how manydollars I have in my pocket. I could just go to other countries,namely America? But since I am here I do not feel this type ofunfairness is acceptable.
This is my country- and my people, all of our children and I,deserve to be treated fairly. The reason that discrimination ismaking an incursion is because of the influx of people who areinsensitive to our God-given traditions who are allowed to makedecisions such as these?
Remember one airline flight over waters does not erase a lifetimeof learned behaviour. Should we as Caymanians allow these thingsto continue to happen. Remember this could be anyone's "good"child that is treated in such a way. I only ask if this is fairand acceptable?
A meeting with Mrs. Majorie Ebanks, the former Principal did nothelp the situation any, I was informed that two years ago Mr.Berry presented it to the School Board of mostly Caymanians, andthey all agreed. Imagine that agreeing to something that she Mrs.Ebanks would have never thought of herself, she also told me.
Mr. Berry and others may have practiced this type of disciplinein other schools in the United States, but I doubt that very much.Sad to say but the children of USA would not have allowed himto reach our island in one piece or maybe this is the reason heis here to prey on acceptance of small island people generosities,because they believe we are il-educated and do not know any better.
Yours Sincerely,
Catherine Tyson, Aida Stewart