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When elephants fight
Posted: Sunday, April 14, 2002
By Donna Yawching
FOR a brief moment back there, I actually had hope for Hazel Manning. She seemed to be taking a measured, proactive approach to resolving the problems in the school system: proposing thoughtful intervention on a number of levels and–most importantly, in my view– acknowledging the right of students to have a say in the running of their schools. At her education symposium, she spoke of “participatory and democratic governance”; team-building and respect; and leadership skills.
And then, last Sunday, she sends out two jeeploads of cops to hand-deliver suspension notices to four teachers. So much for participatory and democratic governance, respect, and so forth. Clearly, the Manning household has a serious comprehension gap when it comes to labour issues: if they’re not firing people by fax, they’re suspending them by police.
Are there really no standard procedures in place for dealing with recalcitrant employees, or is it that the Mannings simply cannot be bothered to follow them? And since when is mail delivery the mandate of the police force? Their role is to serve and protect: who, exactly, needed protection in this case? If the Ministry of Education really feared that some irate teacher would grab a cutlass and chop up School Supervisor Wafe, all they had to do was to send the suspension notices to the school, where they could be delivered in safety. One presumes that Arima teachers do not go to school armed.
If we can spare two jeeploads of policemen (I guess the teachers can be grateful that they didn’t send The Anaconda!) to deliver Ministry mail, it must mean that Mr Manning has completely solved the crime problem, and the police are twiddling their thumbs and looking for ways of killing time. Clearly, also, there is no shortage of vehicles in the police service, since not one, but two could be found to be dispatched on this crucial mission (“Killer teachers: approach with caution!”). Remember this, the next time you call 999 for help and they tell you that all their vehicles are “down”–particularly if you live in Arima.
The whole incident leaves an understandably sour taste in the mouth–one which is not sweetened by Mr Manning’s disingenuous response: “Apologise for what? We should forget it and press on.” In his dreams! If he believes that the unions will nod solemnly and tug on their forelocks–“Yes, boss, you’re right”–, he has another think coming.
Nor is Hazel Manning’s response–“the situation was at no stage made to be embarrassing or intimidatory”–any better. Policemen do not resemble Santa Claus. Two jeeploads arriving in your neighbourhood are bound to be noticed. When one of these drives up to your door, embarrassment and intimidation are inevitable–particularly since our local cops are not known for their soothing personas. (You’ll note, by the way, that the so-called Big Six, who have been charged with a wide array of unmistakably criminal offences, were not subjected to such indignities; does that tell you something about this country?)
That being said, let me emphasise that I hold absolutely no brief for the teachers in question: in my opinion, they should have been suspended, perhaps fired, months ago. Teachers are supposed to be part of the solution in our education system, not part of the problem. Teachers who think they can hold a school to ransom, simply because they don’t like the principal, are severely out of place and should be dealt with accordingly. Who are they to demand that a principal be fired?
Refusing to go to classes and practising “sedition” against the principal cannot be allowed, period. And it is wrong of the unions to support such actions. One of the greatest obstacles in the path of T&T’s development is the widespread attitude by unions that their members can do no wrong. This results in countless incompetent, unprofessional, and sometimes even criminal employees being virtually undisciplinable. The Arima principal has clearly, throughout this conflict, stuck to her guns, and this is something that neither TTUTA nor the teachers can accept. Their only tactic is resorting to disruptive action. There’s something wrong here.
The unions’ reaction to Hazel Manning’s heavy-handedness has been predictably hyperbolic: they’re frothing on about “Gestapo tactics” and “brute force”, as if someone grabbed the teachers in a half-nelson and shoved the suspension notices down their throats. I doubt this was the case; so Trevor Oliver et. al. are merely escalating an already bad situation with all their melodrama.
TTUTA is right to request an apology for the insult visited on its teachers; but is wrong to threaten to disrupt schools across the country because of it. At this point, the whole issue stops being a question of principle and becomes a question of personal power: two men waiting to see who blinks first. As usual, when elephants fight the grass gets trampled–in this case, the hapless students.
Here is what common sense dictates: Hazel Manning (this really has nothing to do with Patrick) should apologise for an insensitive action and stop talking stupidness about the police being sent along to “ensure law and order”. TTUTA should acknowledge the fact that the teachers in question merit disciplinary action, and should allow the process to take its course. The other Arima teachers should do what they’re being paid to do, and resume classes as normal; wearing inflammatory badges is not part of their job description. Alternatively, they should quit, and let real educators get on with the job.
If any students really did misbehave at the height of the tensions (based on a proper investigation, not just on the word of some already hysterical teachers), they should face appropriate disciplinary action–I doubt their transgressions merit anything as severe as suspension or expulsion. The principal should ignore the whole bacchanal and carry on with her job: it’s not a popularity contest.
Only when an atmosphere of moderate calm is re-established at Arima Senior Comprehensive will mediation and conflict resolution measures stand even the slightest chance of success.
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