Students sent home because they didn’t sell raffle books
There was a bit of uproar early this Monday morning in Benque at Mount Carmel High School. A group of students were told by the school administration that they could not stay at school. They weren’t sick and they did not display bad behavior. So why were they sent back home? Apparently they did not sell their raffle books containing ten tickets each. Initially the vice principal tried to remove our news team from the school compound, but the principal agreed to read a statement regarding the situation. However, a concerned parent told us that he bought five of the tickets and he doesn’t know why his daughter couldn’t attend her first from class. News Five headed to Mount Carmel near the western border to find out what is happening.
Alfredo Panti, Concerned Parent
“This morning bright and early I took my daughter to school as usual and then whilst I was on my way back home I saw her on the highway again. I asked her the reason why she is not at school and she said she was not allowed to go into the school because she was not able to sell all the raffle tickets given to her. Although, I purchased five out of ten of them, the principal says—because I personally approached the principal says that it is not enough and she had to sell everything or it has to come out of my pocket. I believe that five more dollars that I should have invested in it is nothing. I won’t say it’s a lot of money but it’s the action being taken by the school. I know for a fact that there are lots of single mothers having children going to school that have to be eating only beans and rice and corn tortilla. People from Arenal, Calla Creek, Succotz Village, San Ignacio, Melchor; lots of them. About twenty-five percent of the whole population of Mount Carmel High School was not allowed to go into the high school because they did not sell the tickets and believe this is an injustice because there is a tuition that we have to be paying for the children to go to school. We do not sign any contracts that they have to be selling tickets. Besides, I think it’s a Catholic school. They should have trust in God, not raffle tickets.”
Rudolfo Juan, Principal, Mount Carmel High School
“Just over four hundred students enrolled in our school. The exact figure I can’t tell you; we’re still in the process of finding out.”
Jose Sanchez
How many were sent home today?
Rudolfo Juan
“I would estimate that perhaps five to six percent. So you can see ninety-five percent, the vast majority were here on campus participating, attending their classes, doing their responsibilities and we thank them for that.”
Jose Sanchez
“Did you approach the police concerning this raffle ticket business?
alfredo panti
Alfredo Panti
“Yes, I went to the police station. The police sent a representative to the high school. He spoke to the principal and the principal said that he cannot do anything because the children have to purchase or sell the tickets. And the police came to me and gave me feedback saying they cannot do anything with regards to it.”
Jose Sanchez
“We have truancy laws. Your child should be in school.”
Alfredo Panti
“Yes, that’s what I believe; she should be in school because education is a right for all the children and they’re not allowing a child into the school only because of raffle tickets. I think this should be something of concern.”
Jose Sanchez
“Your child is a minor, did she sign a contract? She can’t sign a contract saying that she will sell raffle tickets when she entered the school. Did you sign a contract?”
Alfredo Panti
“No, I did not; not for selling tickets. I signed a contract for her going to school, having proper attire in school, paying her tuition, but not for selling tickets.”
Rudolfo Juan
“We’re living through economically challenging times and schools are no exception. Despite this, Mount Carmel remains the most affordable Catholic high school in the country. The school has taken every step to lighten the financial burden on our parents by keeping fees as low as possible and by having only one significant fundraiser for the year. the majority of parents are rightly happy with these accomplishments and the others that we have achieved over the years. We extend our sincere thanks for their unwavering support and cooperation. All funds raised from our raffles go towards the benefit of our great students and we thank them for their hard work. We look forward to having all our students on campus tomorrow.”
Jose Sanchez
“So the students who weren’t able to get the raffle books sold, they can come.”
Rudolfo Juan
“I’m sure we can work a way through whatever challenges we might face. We’re a family. Our school motto says it; unity. I’m sure we can work through things. As long as we are willing to engage with each other, solutions will be found.”
Jose Sanchez
“Okay, but eventually they will have to pay for it down the road.”
Rudolfo Juan
“Like I said, I do believe that by engaging with people on a one on one, we can find a solution, absolutely.”
Jose Sanchez
“Okay, but were there any contracts saying that they have to?”
Rudolfo Juan
“Like I said, I don’t want to elaborate any further at this time. I thank you for coming here. I thank you for listening to what we have sad and I would invite you to perhaps have a look around the campus briefly and that’s all I would like to say at this time.”
Alfredo Panti told News Five that he was prepared to buy the remaining tickets to ensure his daughter would be admitted to the school on Tuesday. A legal advisor informed us that minors can’t enter contracts to sell raffle tickets. But what we have been able to confirm is that it is a practice of many schools to insist that parents pay for raffle tickets when the students are unable to sell them.
This is disgraceful! It happens in many high schools. At SJC, for example, students are required to either buy the tickets or find the money to pay for the cost of the tickets. Fundraising should never require that students PAY. As a matter of fact, PARENTS shouldn’t be compelled to pay. When the tickets are not paid for, the SJC administration adds the cost of the tickets to the subsequent bill. If it is not paid, the student cannot get his/her report card and will be blocked from registration.
To make matters worse, these same school love to tout the line “we always give to our students, so it’s not much that we are asking of them”. But this is a clear untruth. NOTHING is ever freely given at SJC, for sure. If they refer to education as being “given”, they are outright LYING since all students are required to pay ASAP.
And if they want to talk about reciprocity, they should think about finding an explanation as to how these funds go back to the students. I rather think it goes to that/those FAT bank account(s) the school has grown over all those years of collected inflated, phony fees.
This is a very ridiculous story; after all, it is a catholic school, all kind of weird things goes on on the inside.
This should not be allowed to happen at any schools in Belize, after this situation is over the students should protest against selling raffle tickets at any cost. Since when do students have to sign a contract to sell raffle tickets for their schools?
The principal of that school has lost his darn mind, and principles.
I DONT KNOW IF THIS HAS HAPPEN BEFORE AND THE PUBLIC IS JUST BEING MADE AWARE OF PRINCIPALS MAKING THEIR OWN RULES OF RUNNING A SCHOOL, BUT IN MY OPINION THE PRINCIPAL OF THAT SCHOOL SHOULD BE PENALIZED BY THE EDUCATIONAL BOARD FOR SUCH AN UNPROFFESSIONAL BEHAVIOR. I HAVE TAUGHT IN SCHOOLS BOTH IN BELIZE AND THE UNITED STATES AND HAVE BEEN INVOLVED WITH SCHOOL FUND-RAISERS ,WE NORMALLY ASK THE PARENTS AND THE CHILDREN TO HELP BUT THEY ARE NEVER PENALIZED FOR NOT REACHING A QUOTA. EDUCATION IS MORE IMPORTANT THAN SELLING OF RAFFLE TICKETS. THE PRINCIPAL NEED TO TAKE OUT A FULL PAGE AD IN ONE OF THE NEWSPAPER APOLOGIZING TO THE STUDENTS, TEACHERS, AND PARENTS OF THAT COMMUNITY.
should schools need fundraisers i believe it should be the responsibility of the school admin and perhaps the PTA, any involvement from your student body should be voluntary. students are playing their part by being there and anything more should be taken up by the administration of the school. maybe it should be compulsory for the teachers to sell tickets!?
Its a damn shame, I want them to try that with my kid, ill sue the whole system!!!!!!!
School administrators and teachers should come up with better ideas on how to raise funds. I don’t blame the people for not wanting to buy raffle tickets. See, that is the problem with teachers: they remain in inertia and do the same thing over and over again every year to try to raise funds. Please, get creative and come up with better and more enticing ideas on how to raise funds. Yeah, and then they come around saying that students are no longer creative.
Shame on the principal, I wonder if he have children? I bet he would’nt want them going around selling raffle ticket and putting dem in danger of being robbed or raped, in the times we are living now how dare he put the lives of his students in danger!! This principal should step down he is not even thinking about how hard life is right now to place all this burden on parents.
THIS CATHOLIC SCHOOL HAVE NO LOVE FOR THE CCHILDREN!! WHY DON’T HE SEND A LETTER TO THE POPE AND ASK FOR FINANCIAL HELP, THEY HAVE MILLIONS!!
To all the schools out there, what are we sending our children to school for to sell raffle tickets and BBQ tickets. Teachers and Principals have you sat down and really think about the risk children are being placed by selling tickets. Not all parents can afford to buy all. What if one of these students gets raped, killed,….so many things can happen and go wrong. Instead of selling tickets maybe the school can do different fairs. Take Holy Cross over in San Pedro as an example, Easter, Christmas, Halloween,…what they do is have each class do something to raise funds, they have a fun day for the kids where they sell food, pastries, sweets, they even have dance room. Parents donate everything, some parents bring cake and so many other things. This school even has cheap sale to raise funds, they sell from School Uniforms to School Supplies. Let all schools take an example of this school. On Friday’s they have rags day where students pay a fee to go without uniform. This school is there for the children, they even give lunch to all the students. Lets learn from them
sorry to hear about what student are facing while enrolling their education. principal take advantage of student by selling ticket. they make fund for the school but when parents of the student can’t afford it ,they have to understand. especially nowadays with this economic problem belizean ppl are facing. when parents ” can’t afford it teachers, principal have to understand” . how in the world u will figure out how these student are being send to school? how u can guarantee these student parent have money? maybe their parents don’t even have money to purchase their hold house item. so this simple ticket is very true that u won’t eat it. i agree with that. with so much amount of ticket being sold, not all the buyers will be a winner. so much less ppl won’t buy everytime. what panti say is right. ppl won’t buy something that won’t make sense. selling ticket have to stop. their are better ways how school can do fundraising . selling food and so might help. but not papers .
so belizean ppl think about it. education is better for student and every child have the right to be educated. especially high school , parents struggle to send their child to get educated. principal must think that without those student , their will be no job for them . so let’s treat ourselves as family and must understand each others comments. so principal have no right to send student home for useless reason.
thanks
Bev.. yes … teachers ARE required to sell tickets also…..2 booklets!!, Jedi… yeah right, try suing everybody… did you just come from the US??… And Macal.. I agree with you …these days it’s horribly risky to send children out to sell tickets.. reason why I buy all from my children!!! and yes things are definitely hard for everyone.. but as a former educator and a parent I would like all of you to realize a few things…It SHOULD be the government’s responsibility to finance the schools… werent they the ones that came with the FREE EDUCATION fiasco?? Free education doesn’t mean just paying teachers’ salaries and the school’s light and water bills. There are so many other expenses that need to be covered (stationaries, lab supplies, computers & accessories, copiers, etc.). All schools find themselves forced to generate funds to finance those expenses (of course, some mediocre schools dont worry much about it…. but take a look at their CXC results then compare them to most of the catholic high schools). If the government is not assuming its responsibility to pay, the school’s have to find other means to find that money (or raise its fees – which undoubtedly will generate more controversy). Here is where we could use “Conspiracy theorist” creativity to avoid the raffles. Now imagine how much schools could do with the millions given away to the Novelos, the Universal Group, the Fonsecas, the Barrows and the millions used by the present government to buy a NEW fleet of SUVs for their ministers and cronies (which many of them have crashed and scrapped). And the many more millions that will be wasted by our corrupt politicians. But dont worry, Patrick will always be in the media taking sides with the parents (he’s not politically dumb) even if that is not good for education (he said it once, first of all he’s a politician, not only the minister of education). Now as a parent, I ensure I assist the school of my children. I ensured I had only the children that I could maintain and properly educate.. not one more. My children’s education is also MY responsibility. No school nor government sent me to have more children that I could properly educate. A GOOD Education is expensive but worth it!! Let’s wake up from our fantasy of good and cheap education or that the government will be solely responsibile to properly educate our children (even if legally they should – our taxes)… To those parents that have money to get drunk on weekends, or to buy the latest cell phones or electronic gadgets, but dont have an extra $10 A YEAR to assist in the precious education of EACH of their children.. PLEASE ….get sterilized (or get some sense in your head) !! China is today a super power thanks mostly to its mentality towards families – “have only the children YOU can properly care, maintain and educate… dont have children for the state to raise!!”
To conspiaracy teorist,why dont you get on board maybe on pta and share your creative ideas. and to all you people complaining about what the principal did, stop complaining and start participting, get involved.
Schools shouldn’t need to send the kids out to raise funds – What next – prostition? The kids are at risk whenever they are out selling tickets and carrying cash. Girls even more so, as there are many perverts out there looking for an opportunity to prey on the vunerable.
Surely the ministry of education should press central government for the funds to maintain the schools, church owned or otherwise. State schools should be 100% funded and church/private schools 60-75% funded by public money – that is what we pay taxes for!
Literacy used to be over 90% in Belize prior to 1999, then education suffered from a corrupt administration, intent on destroying that in order to keep the people ignorant and illiterate in order for them to be easily conned and moulded into voting only for “the party”. (No names, but one slogan used by them was “You are living in a good country”, when that obviously only applied to a chosen few).
FREE TEXTBOOKS! was a scam, made Belizeans look like beggars, as we were and are supposed to get on our knees and kiss their feet for second rate books, which should be issued anyway! ALL textboks up to College level of education should be free to students. they should be encouraged to learn and graduate with good grades, so they are better prepared for adult life, and have more choice in careers to follow. But no – most drop out well before they reach graduation age, many of those even before they were due to reach Primary school graduation. More thugs & criminals on the streets, and vunerable girls to end up as Single Mums, or worse, be preyed upon by probably the very same who are “leading” our country.
The current administration is no better, and probably don’t want the majority of the people to be educated, as we would all see clearly what their true agenda is. Better to keep their chosen few educated, and assist them in their education, to breed a new batch of lawyers to replace them when they are older!
The only poeple getting richer in Belize are Police, Customs, Politicians, Priests and Undertakers! The despots won’t be fleeing for a long time…….
I cannot believe this mess! First of all the teacher should know better than this especially how children are being mulested and killed, I would say that selling tickets like this is for sure a form of child endangerment. Would he take responsibility if during the time one of these children are selling tickets ther are injured or killed.
Let’s say that the teacher does not have enough smarts to know this but it is further embarassing to know that not even the police in the country know that there are laws on the books against this. Like was pointed out earlier children should not be out of school during the time school is in session. Based on this fact alone the police could have enforce that law.
Hey all police officers of Belize the main function of your job is law enforcement! this meansthat you need to first learn the law because this is the only way you can enforce them!
Another point: Police officers of Belize you need to behave in a more restrained manner if you want to earn the respect of the citizenry that you should be serving and prtecting. There are also many more benefits when police officers behave in a more restrained manner.
Outstandin comments Roska – you hit the nail with the hammer, especially at the end. true, government promised, and are legally supposed to fund education – Primary & secondary (High School), but there are a lot of parents, single or in a relationship, more willing to blow cash on booze, weed and designer clothes or phones for themselves than dip into their pockets to help their kids schools.
When their kids skip school, they don’t care, and only get vocal or involved when the kid is either in a Holding Cell somewhere, (Po-Po picking on my innocent child), or dead!
Before anyone flashes back angry comments, wanting both Roska and myself hanged in public for saying this – If the cap fits, wear it!
It’s Illegal! How can this be happening? Schools are only in for the money now? Isn’t there an annual fee that covers the students’ education?
Roska… I agree with you One Million percent. Everything you say I couldn’t have said it better. WAY TO GO!!!
Agreed! Way to go Roska!
HARD WORKING TEACHER from where? i was a student in youth life and i went the same PROCESS while you lazy A$$ teachers just send us to sell tickets. you should be ashame to call yourself hard working teacher. all of us pearents should plea to abolish raffle selling tickets in schools. risking our kids life on the dangerous streets we live in. wonder where you teach i’d love to know. this a christian school and treating the kids like that of sending them for for some simple raffle tickets Juan be more professional and act like one, times are hard for us the parents.
What Roska says is true I agree, but as an educator, this principal is guilty of sending these kids on the street when they were entrusted under his responsibility for this time period. If somn happens to them he will be liable. Another thing is this call the parents contact them to sell the tickets do not make minors responsible for what parents/guardians do.
absurd acts of schools! They always do that..only interested in getting money! All what they think is about filling their pockets and not educating the children the right way! They reach to the extent of giving jugs and suspensions or to pay the tickets((wit haad times ppl can afford to be paying)). So many injustices are made at primary schools, high schools and etc. and where is our ministry of education? can’t they employ more people to send at schools to do inspections? this is from a student point of view!
I wonder if the principal will teke the responsibility if one of the children get rape while selling raffle tickets.
The catholic Institution is broke from all these child Molestation as a result they’re implementing these stupid rules.This is for the head of the Catholic dioses in Belize.Please stop exploiting my Belizean people.I suggest that you guys make some school fairs or something to raise fonds for your institution.My Belizean people are not obligated to pay for your child molestation Lawsuites.
I agree with Roska. Too many people are having children that they can not afford to to support financially or emotionally. So if it not one things it is the other. True is it dangerous to have students out there selling, so then parents need to support their children and buy the raffles.
I am against the principal’s action though. He should have considered those who have sold a least a portion and look for other ways to collect from those who didn’t sell. He claims that the money is for the up keep of the school. He could solicit the service of the parents in exchange for the money. For example: yard cleaning, pluming, painting, repairs, etc. Parents may not have the money but they may have a useful skill. know your students and their parents and tap into the resource. It is a great compromise.
What Kind of crazy thing is that? Since when a student is sent home for not selling raffle tickets? With the economy wth no jobs and things avr harder they should be greatful the have 50% of student sells their ticket. What is Belize becoming to? If it was over bad behavior or uniform codes or something then I would understand but tickets? The principal and vice principal should be replaced that is just plan bogus. Their jobs are to give those students an education that the parents paying for, and not denying them an education because of not selling tickets. That is just plain wrong they should be reported to the board of education. Belize is getting worst.
Why all the unrelated attacks on the church? Bigotry can’t be used as a reputable or valid basis of argument. The Catholic church in Belize has never had to pay anything for child molestation compensation (since no cases have ever been advanced in front of the Courts). Elgin Martinez is showing his ignorance and it’s not a pretty sight. All Catholic dioceses operate autonomously when it comes to the payment of bills for upkeep of its schools.
This collection of funds has nothing to do with child molestation, but ignorant Belizeans are willing to jump on the bandwagon when they see an opportunity to bash anyone for their own shortcomings.
Now this does not invalidate shows of displeasure with what the schools do in terms of requiring payments for these raffles or any sort of “donations” towards school bank accounts. The lack of a response from church leaders against this unjust policy is to be taken as tacit approval. Indeed, I will be the first to record my discontent when it comes to “extra funding” that will come from my or my parents pockets and go to schools that are systematically protected by both parties when in power.
This is one of the problems that the recently commissioned Task Force ought to address among the many injustices it will be expected to take on.
It is very sad what is happening at MCHS. This has been a wonderful school but now we people from Melchor have to pay 500.oo per student who is not a Belizean appart from the tuition fee that is being paid. It is a big injustice this was not done before. We need to remember that it is a Catholic School they don´t even think of how hard is for us to get the money, but although it is hard for us to understand, education is better and that is why we send them there. A phrase that teachers always teach there is WHAT WOULD JESUS DO???
it was a shame of what happened on monday but look people they also charge us to use the bathroom is that fair. this is true and serious
RM – maybe the reason that the Catholic Church hasn’t paid compensation for child abusein Belize is because no-one has yet been caught, or convicted?
Children who were abused elswhere in the world (thousands of them) were told by the abuser that if they reported the crime, that they would be sinning and damned to burn in hell for all of eterity, so they were not only abused and in fear, but had to live with guilt too!! That’s partly why most who did report abuse did so when they were adults!
The very person that the parish, and especially the children of the parish were supposed to look up to, and depend on for spiritual guidance, ended up as the abuser, and it wasn’t a ‘one-off’ or occasional thing, even now the total figure of the crimes and offenders hasn’t come to light.
Couple that with the churches constantly covering up for the offenders and keeping everything under a veil of secrecy for decades, and longer, with even the Pope only admitting there was and is a problem on 2009 – the 21st Century! The church was forced to make this issue public, as they could no longer hide it due to the Internet, satelite communication and electronic mail etc. (In the dark Ages, all services were held in Latin, and only royalty, scholars and priests/monks could read or write, as a deliberate measure to keep the ‘peasants’ ignorant and faithful. they had no choice but to believe everything the church told them).
Actually I am not surprised that so many catholic priests were abusers, considering the track record of the Catholic Church over the centuries. Look what they did to the Americas after Columbus discovered Hispaniola. The Pope at the time decreed that all lands west of the Azores belonged to Spain and the Catholic Church, the wealth discovered was his and the Spanish Kings personal property, including the inhabitants! All lands discovered were to be siezed and annexed, & genocide, rape, pillage, slavery and mass destruction of civilisations was carried out – all ‘in the name of God’! Human greed being shielded and covered up by ‘religion’ – Old habits die hard.
this is a total disgrace because this school went against laws established in Belize to ensure the education of our kids. What is the point of it all when the principals take it upon themselves to breakt he laws and the police don’t do anything about it? such a disgrace
You think this is bad? Let’s look at the scenario in nearby Mopan Technical High. If your children don’t sell the tickets, they are still admitted into class. At the end of the term, parents are simply forced to pay for the unsold tickets or else they don’t see their child’s report card. I recall that years ago, the ministry of education banned this sort of fund raiser for schools after two girls in Belize City were raped while going out on the streets selling the tickets. Now my question is this: why does this sort of thing keep going on? I am glad this issue was brought to national TV. I hope it is a reality check for responsible authorities.
YOu Know ? I am RC…what would Jesus do? first thing he would say let the children come to me, so no send them away from school man! no put them picni fu sell, mek the parents and guardians be in charge, if you get mad at picni because parents no sell tickets you are sending a wrong message to kids they did nothing wrong their duty as RC we know is honor their father and mother. Call a meeting with your parents be patient and work together as a community it can be done after all whom can school administrators usually turn to to raise funds? not the govt…but the parents! once you work hand in hand with you PTA and be accountable the kids will try their best, but no back stab by sending the pic ni away from school, u are not winning no parent help that way…extend the day of the raffle a couple weeks and talk to your parents…se prendio el foco?
Why behave like hypocrites? This is not the first and only school that has done this practices. Let’ s not act as we have never seen or heard. But use this incident to bring awareness to the GOVERNMENT and our SOCIETY. Now let’s put the cards on the table, just as how schools have responsibilities, GOVERNMENT AND PARENTS NEED TO DO THEIR SHARE. The Minister of Education instead of preaching and preaching about nonsense he should take action. If he really wants “child friendly classrooms”, begin with a FREE education plan, AT ALL LEVELS. Government do not assist schools financially, NOT A CENT, schools have to find a way how to pay utility bills. Parents, the ones who owe all fees and are reluctant to assist with fund raising, are the ones with expensive and the latest gadgets. Parents’ responsibilities are to ensure all bills are paid, and be committed to assist in all way possible. So, parents instead of just coming to conclusion reflect on yourself,” Am I a subject of change”. Even though this action wasn’t the right thing, Mount Carmel High, is the only high school that GIVES an opportunity to everyone one. And to the media you should have made a report on how MCHS came to be. GOD BLESS MCHS
As a parent of two very dedicated and productive students, I am extremely involved in helping my girls’ school in every way possible. Having school spirit not only helps the school but also our children. I highly recommend for parents to get involved in their children’s school. However, the incident at Mount Carmel High School is preposterous. The children are scapegoats, they bear the blame of others. We the voting population of Belize are the ones at fault. We complaint about our economic, social, health issues, well, we complaint about everything. Yet on Convention Day, we don’t participate to nominate people that could really make a difference. Election day comes, and our options are: incompetent vs. incompetent. We go and vote for the root of our problems, and our children pay the consequences.
Real intellectual stuff there, davet. Nice diversion. Totally related to the raffle sale drama
They don’t just charge you for your raffle books…they can find anything and charge you…and i mean any damn things!!!! My … school has fundraising every …. year!!!! wtf r they raising!!!!! damn!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
what da hell up in thats principal … any teacher or principal do that they should be penalized where is the shool director does that principal know that alot of bad minds guys are out there espcially for girls lets stop this bs raffal ticket stop yhat bs if de no sell de no sell keep the students in school this kind matter minster of educatoin shuold look after and the minister barrow come on country fellows help students not to sell those tickets push effort to stop sell tickets stundents should go to school earn education