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Teacher's arrest sparks unrest
Classes disrupted for near 3 hours at Santa Cruz Primary and Junior High
BY GARFIELD MYERS Editor-at-Large South/Central Bureau [email protected]
Wednesday, October 08, 2014
Kenneth Brown (third right in front) is embraced by jubilant colleague teachers at Santa Cruz Primary and Junior High following his release on bail. (PHOTOS: AINSLEY CLARKE
SANTA CRUZ, St Elizabeth -- Classes at Santa Cruz Primary and Junior High were disrupted yesterday after a teacher accused of having hit a child on September 19 was arrested.
The teacher, Kenneth Brown, who was released on bail some time after mid-day, told the Jamaica Observer he was taken into custody on an assault-related charge. He has denied the allegation. Brown claimed the child ran into a door causing injury to his forehead.
Brown said yesterday that he was in the process of securing the services of a lawyer through the teachers' union, the Jamaica Teachers' Association (JTA).
Protesting teachers bearing placards stood at the entrance of the school from late morning to early afternoon to protest the arrest of their colleague and to demand "justice".
They were particularly incensed when the police initially refused to grant bail. Brown told the Observer he spent about five hours in the police lock-up before being released. He believed the police relented "because of the public support of my colleagues".
The protest abruptly ended at about 1:00 pm after the teacher received bail and was seen walking to the school from the station, a short distance away.
His colleagues ran to embrace him and escorted him to the school.
An impromptu celebration followed with teachers singing gospel songs in the staff room. That happened even as children who came in for the afternoon shift milled around in the schoolyard.
School Principal Ivorine Dwyer later told the Observer that classes resumed "round about 1:30 pm". She said classes had been disrupted for about three hours.
Explaining how his arrest came about, Brown -- who teaches Civics and woodwork-related Product Design -- told the Observer that on Friday, September 19 he was struggling to bring his Grade 8 class under control when he heard a particular disruptive noise from a section of the classroom.
He walked towards the source of the noise and a boy ran. Brown said another boy shoved the classroom door and the fleeing boy was hit in the head by the door, causing injury to his forehead. The child reportedly developed a swelling, colloquially referred to as a 'coco', on his forehead. He was reportedly taken to a doctor by his father sometime after.
Brown claimed that while he had a belt in hand at the time, he had not intended to hit the boy. Corporal punishment or flogging, once a common means of punishment in schools, is now forbidden by the Ministry of Education. The JTA has also advised teachers not to use corporal punishment in attempting to punish children.
Brown said on the Monday, immediately after the incident, the boy's father visited the school and he was also aware that a report had been made to the police.
He said he was told by the police on Monday afternoon to report to the station at 7:30 am. He said he was under the impression that he would be released on bail after being charged. However, on arrival he was told that the nature of the charge meant he would not be granted bail.
Classes disrupted for near 3 hours at Santa Cruz Primary and Junior High
BY GARFIELD MYERS Editor-at-Large South/Central Bureau [email protected]
Wednesday, October 08, 2014
Kenneth Brown (third right in front) is embraced by jubilant colleague teachers at Santa Cruz Primary and Junior High following his release on bail. (PHOTOS: AINSLEY CLARKE
SANTA CRUZ, St Elizabeth -- Classes at Santa Cruz Primary and Junior High were disrupted yesterday after a teacher accused of having hit a child on September 19 was arrested.
The teacher, Kenneth Brown, who was released on bail some time after mid-day, told the Jamaica Observer he was taken into custody on an assault-related charge. He has denied the allegation. Brown claimed the child ran into a door causing injury to his forehead.
Brown said yesterday that he was in the process of securing the services of a lawyer through the teachers' union, the Jamaica Teachers' Association (JTA).
Protesting teachers bearing placards stood at the entrance of the school from late morning to early afternoon to protest the arrest of their colleague and to demand "justice".
They were particularly incensed when the police initially refused to grant bail. Brown told the Observer he spent about five hours in the police lock-up before being released. He believed the police relented "because of the public support of my colleagues".
The protest abruptly ended at about 1:00 pm after the teacher received bail and was seen walking to the school from the station, a short distance away.
His colleagues ran to embrace him and escorted him to the school.
An impromptu celebration followed with teachers singing gospel songs in the staff room. That happened even as children who came in for the afternoon shift milled around in the schoolyard.
School Principal Ivorine Dwyer later told the Observer that classes resumed "round about 1:30 pm". She said classes had been disrupted for about three hours.
Explaining how his arrest came about, Brown -- who teaches Civics and woodwork-related Product Design -- told the Observer that on Friday, September 19 he was struggling to bring his Grade 8 class under control when he heard a particular disruptive noise from a section of the classroom.
He walked towards the source of the noise and a boy ran. Brown said another boy shoved the classroom door and the fleeing boy was hit in the head by the door, causing injury to his forehead. The child reportedly developed a swelling, colloquially referred to as a 'coco', on his forehead. He was reportedly taken to a doctor by his father sometime after.
Brown claimed that while he had a belt in hand at the time, he had not intended to hit the boy. Corporal punishment or flogging, once a common means of punishment in schools, is now forbidden by the Ministry of Education. The JTA has also advised teachers not to use corporal punishment in attempting to punish children.
Brown said on the Monday, immediately after the incident, the boy's father visited the school and he was also aware that a report had been made to the police.
He said he was told by the police on Monday afternoon to report to the station at 7:30 am. He said he was under the impression that he would be released on bail after being charged. However, on arrival he was told that the nature of the charge meant he would not be granted bail.
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