Second day of school marred by protests

Some parents and members of the school board of the Queen's School located on Central Avenue, Kingston 8 protested outside the gates on Tuesday morning over the appointment of a new head mistress.

Small in numbers but adamant, the protesters bore placards which indicated their discontent with the Anglican Diocese who they say recommended the appointment.

Oligarchy

They are upset that Carole Jackson, who was acting in the position of head mistress, was unfairly removed by the Ministry of Education on recommendation by the Anglican Diocese.

They say that Mrs. Jackson has been acting in the capacity for two years and so was more than qualified to be appointed.

“We feel that the Anglican Church has acted in a way that the head of the Church was autocratic was reminiscent of being an oligarchy, ruled by few, to make a decision which was not just. What has happened is that the person who was qualified, had experience was recommended and with a switch without telling anyone why, they reversed that,” said Richard Bonner, parent and member of the school board.    

He says several letters have been written to the Anglican Diocese seeking an explanation for the decision, however none has been forthcoming.

The replacement

Meanwhile classes at the McNie All Age School, which sits on the border of Clarendon and St. Ann, were disrupted for the second straight day on Tuesday morning as parents protested against the replacing of the school's principal.

RJR News understands that matters came to a head Monday afternoon when a Ministry of Education official turned up at the school with new acting principal Rebecca Pinnock.

Ms Pinnock is to replace Franklin Byfield who was reportedly acting in the post for over a year.

News quickly spread and residents rushed to the school where they began protesting.

The matter took another turn on Tuesday as school failed to start at the usual time as the gate to the institution was padlocked.

The gate was later opened on the intervention of the Crofts Hill Police Station, who at this time are still keeping a close watch on the situation.