Granny says she would be in 'Balo' if grandchild was given Pine Sol
The grandmother, whose name is not known, was addressing the issue during a community meeting held by Second District Representative, Hon Melvin M. Turnbull (R2) at the Ivan Dawson Primary School on Monday, February 10, 2020.
She said, “I have two grandchildren in this school, and I wouldn’t like if that happened to one of them. I would have been up Balo [Balsam Ghut]. We have to do something about it. Since it happened, they should have done tell us something about it. The children are confused, they are not performing as they should and the teachers who knows about it they need to go home, they don’t need to be around children.”
She even had some words for the Minister responsible for Education, Dr the Honourable Natalio D. Wheatley (R7).
She remarked: “If that was up East End where Mr Wheatley [is] he wouldn’t have liked that if it was his child or grandchild. And, if we don’t get an answer we have to march for the children.”
Hon Wheatley has said the matter is being investigated and a decision will then be made by the Teaching Service Commission.
I will speak!
Meanwhile, Hon Turnbull said he would not be silent on the issue.
“What I am not going to do is be silent because, at the end of the day, all of us have children and or grandchildren attending school. And, if it was anyone of us, everybody knows what their reactions and their behaviours would have been. It is just simply not acceptable! It is a crime against children. The Juvenile and Young Persons’ Act states the different forms of abuse; that’s one of them,” he remarked.
“We cannot let it be swept under the rug. I do not want the teacher’s life to be destroyed, nor would I throw all teachers and educators in the same bus, but something must happen, because I will tell you what I told the parents: “sue the government”. Because the students are in the teacher’s care and the teachers are the responsibilities of the government,” he added.
The Opposition legislator said he was not in agreement with the approach of the Ministry of Education adding, “Anywhere else in the world there would be a different course of action and the fact that it was held for so long and on top of that you are hearing how much more incidents in this school and others have occurred.”
He said he would be meeting with the principal of the Ivan Dawson Primary this week and will be seeking answers from the Ministry on the status of the probe.
“What was supposed to happen is there was supposed to be a report by today, and today has come and gone. A report needs to come out by tomorrow so we could know what actions were taken,” Turnbull pointed out.
One resident teacher said the teacher who allegedly committed the act is not working at the moment; however, the students, teachers, and community are all anxious as to the end result of this matter.
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30 Responses to “Granny says she would be in 'Balo' if grandchild was given Pine Sol”
The child's life was actually in danger.
This is assault and must be treated as such..
I agree with granny. The teacher and whatever other teachers who knew shouldn’t be around children. And the principal needs to be dealt with as well as I am sure she wasn’t the one who reported it. Who is really protecting the children?
According to my information the student was using obscene language at school and the teacher told the students that they need to clean their mouths. The advocate for the removal of the teacher form the school system will not solve the problem in the school and community. What should be done is for the community to advocate for the students to display appropriate behaviour and be attentive to their education, that will result in a better Virgin Islands.
Just who the @#$% are you to pass such judgement. Let’s see, a childless I can’t procreate barren mule perhaps?
I am so glad it is not my child as this teacher would be gargling pine sol too. Sickening!!!! Would you feel good if anyone ill-treated your child in such manner? I sure not.
In all fairness and show of sincerity, revisit reported incidents systemwide within the past year or so and take necessary disciplinary action.
I agree that the past previous and recent nonreaction by the ministry education,child services and the VI police Dept are all culpable in permitting this culture of teacher violence against children within the schools. They are no less guilty than this teacher and should be held accountable.
The point about the very poor levels of discipline and family standards that people are making have merit but that is a separate issue. What she did cannot be condoned or excused.
The Minister said he is doing an investigation and will then take action. Yet before all that is done, here we have an HOA member inciting people to mob behavior.
Guess who the Principal was???
A Leopard will not ... and cannot change it's stripes