The Tribune

By Morgan Adderley

Tribune Staff Reporter

madderley@tribunemedia.net

THE Bahamas Educators Managerial Union defended Stephen Dillet Primary School principal Phyllis Johnson on Friday in the wake of the “disgraceful public attack” BEMU says she experienced in the last week.

Eighteen Stephen Dillet teachers participated in a “sit out” outside the school’s gates after lunch last Monday. The incident came after Ms Johnson allegedly prevented them from holding a lunchtime union meeting inside the school.

The teachers claimed the principal has been disrespectful to them and refused to address their concerns.

They also circulated a petition listing their concerns about her, which was signed by thirty of the school’s 40 teachers.

On Friday, BEMU held a press conference discussing the demonstration and a viral “social recording” that allegedly features Bahamas Union of Teachers (BUT) President Belinda Wilson calling the principal a “hot mess”.

BEMU President Charles Wildgoose said: “In the past few months, we’ve experienced a number of unwarranted, unacceptable personal attacks on educational managers and supervisors.”

“However, this most recent, disgraceful public attack on [Ms Johnson] has left us no other alternative than to make clear to all and sundry that our members have rights which shall not be violated or abused by anyone.”

“We take this opportunity to inform our members and the general public that the mistruths that have been directed towards [Ms Johnson] by the president of the BUT are neither professional nor warranted.”

Mr Wildgoose continued: “The personal attack being referred to as a ‘hot mess’ and the mistruth about Ms Johnson being transferred to four schools in five years, by the President of the BUT, goes against every Code of Ethics adopted by BEMU, our union, the (Caribbean Union of Teachers), the (International Labour Organization) and Educational International, of which BEMU is a bona fide member.”

“These types of interruptions during the course of school hours are reasons why these concerns were addressed in our Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA).”

Mr Wildgoose said: “BEMU’s executive officers have participated in meetings with BUT…in an attempt to resolve matters of concern amicably and professionally.”

“Each attempt was met with gross disrespect towards educational managers and supervisors, that is principals who granted permission (in good faith) for BUT’s President to hold union meetings during the course of the day.”

“The meetings were to be held in an allotted time frame; however, this agreement was severely abused and the student’s instructional time was impeded upon.”

According to BEMU Executive Vice President Gina Sweeting-Moss, Ms Johnson never told the teachers they could not have a union meeting.

Mrs Sweeting-Moss said the issue “was just the timing for that particular day.”

“Because when teachers meet at lunchtime, team leaders and all who are expected to assist with certain discipline stuff during lunchtime, when all the teachers meet, then the administration of the school is left to completely man the entire school population.”

“That particular day, (the principal) had two administrators who would not be present. And so there was a shortage of manpower to deal with the safety of all the students at one time.”

Consequently, Ms Johnson suggested the meeting be held at 3pm, after school.

According to Mr Wildgoose, following this, the principal was met with “insults in front of [her] staff (by BUT’s President)” and barred from the room.

Mr Wildgoose added: “During this week’s incident, an eight-year-old student experienced a severe asthma attack, during the time when teachers had left their posts and students were unsupervised.”

“The child’s classmates had to run and report the emergency to an administrator. An ambulance was called and dealt with the child’s emergency.”

He continued: “While we acknowledge that there are many leadership styles, we can say that (Mrs Johnson) has applied, met the requirements and deemed capable to be promoted to the post of principal in our country’s educational system.”

“At present, she has been rated outstanding in her performance.”

“Additionally, it has been noted, by her Supervisor or Superintendent that she is a strong instructional leader, who seeks to improve student achievement.”

“At present, we can ill-afford these persistent interruptions in the educational achievement of our nation’s youth.”

“We therefore appeal to the President of the BUT to work with us as we abide by the dictates of our individual CBAs. Our students deserve better.”

As for the petition listing the teachers’ concerns about Ms Johnson, Mrs Sweeting-Moss said the teachers have escalated that to the Director [of Education’s] office, adding the BEMU could no longer comment on that matter.