B.N.T.U. protests school violence; 400 teachers walk picket line
We begin tonight’s newscast with a developing story in southern Belize where school children stayed home today and it had nothing to do with the H1N1 virus. Classes were interrupted in response to a call from the B.N.T.U. following the assault of a primary school teacher by a parent at the Solid Rock Academy. Jose Sanchez headed to Dangriga today and has this report.
Jose Sanchez Reporting
At least twenty-five schools were closed today as approximately four hundred teachers took to the streets of Dangriga in order to protest against the growing incidence of violence on school compounds. The Belize National Teachers Union led today’s demonstration.
George Frazer, Executive Secretary, B.N.T.U.
“The matter is not improving, it’s getting worse. How many students again have and are being attack on the street; students going to high school, primary school, their bicycles being stolen. Their watches, their cell phones, even tennis taken off their feet. The matter has reached crisis proportion and we are saying enough is enough and we have to do something and the union is taking this lead.”
While on-campus violence is a growing concern, the rallying point for the protests surrounds a case that occurred on April twenty-third at Solid Rock Christian Academy.
Howard Melendrez, Pres. Stann Creek, BN.T.U.
“Well, I am estimating somewhere between three hundred and fifty to four hundred teachers, that an estimation.”
Jose Sanchez
“They were out here demonstrating for what?”
Howard Melendrez
“Well, they are all demonstrating their discontent of what transpired, I would say possibly two weeks ago at one our institution in here in Dangriga Town whereby a teacher was hit by a parent.”
Ermogenez Leiva, former teacher, Solid Rock Christian Academy
“An unfortunate situation I would say unfolded at Solid rock on the twenty-third of April where I was I attached by a parent. I certainly don’t what this to happen again to anybody for that matter or anywhere. We have reconciled, I mean from the first day it happened, I had forgiven the guy and throughout the week that I was at school and he came and asked for forgiveness which I did gave him and the class as well. So this whole situation have been resolved in good faith.”
The matter wasn’t finished and Leiva was arrested last week Thursday and charged with assault.
Jose Sanchez
“Even though it was dealt with peacefully, I understand that he was still charged with assault. Who actually initiated those proceedings?”
Patricia Evans, Principal, Solid Rock Christian Academy
“The mother of the child that was in his class.”
Howard Melendrez
“A few seconds ago it was rumored that Mr. Leiva is no longer at the institution. Now that is another matter that we need to look into.”
Patricia Evans
“Mr. Leiva has struggled with whether he was going to continue teaching or not from the day he was assaulted and we have worked with him to encourage him to stick it out if this was what God has called him to do but he decided on Monday that his heart wasn’t into it anymore and he spoke to me and he said that he would just have to stop.”
Ermogenez Leiva
“I believe the zeal and the energy that I had in the beginning to have taught there has diminished to a large extent, hence the reason I chose to reconsider my position there and more than likely decided to move on.”
Jose Sanchez
“So you are going to leave the school?”
Ermogenez Leiva
“Yes, I had done so already and Mrs. Evans called me and told me to have brought the stuff in this morning which I did.”
Solid Rock was one of the few schools that had regular classes today.
Jose Sanchez
“As the Branch President how do you feel then that this same institution did not come out to support the cause that you’re here for today?”
Howard Melendrez
“Well, it’s not sitting too well wit me and also my Branch Executive because as we mentioned from the timer this incident took place, we are not in no shape or form targeting the parent nor the school, we are demonstrated against the act that was committed. So looking at a situation like that and I am certain and I am not here condemning the principal and I am certain if the principal was the one who was hit, I know she wouldn’t have taken this likely and Mr. Leiva is member of staff so we should support this teacher.”
Patricia Evans
“We have been in full support of Mr. Leiva; supporting him emotionally, psychologically, physically everywhere we could from the time this incident happened. Today not being out there is not a meaning that we’re not in support of him, some teachers decided to go, some teachers decided to stay in the classroom.”
George Frazer
“We will do whatever it takes to join in with the other partners to move this concern forward so that we make our schools more safer and child-friendly and to protect our teachers and students from these abuses.”
Leiva is not sure what he will do next but it is certain that the B.N.T.U. will continue to trumpet the cause for safety on school compounds throughout the country.
Reporting for News Five Jose Sanchez.
