Home » St John’s Has Till 1pm to Fire Teacher. Learners and Parents Boycott School.

St John’s Has Till 1pm to Fire Teacher. Learners and Parents Boycott School.

St John’s learners, parents – and the Gauteng MEC of Education, Panyaza Lesufi – have stood up against the decision by St John’s College to not fire a teacher who allegedly made racist remarks. Lesufi said “the school has undermined the dignity of children..” and that “we advised St John’s College to fire the (racist) […]

By SAPeople
28-07-17 12:29
in Education

St John’s learners, parents – and the Gauteng MEC of Education, Panyaza Lesufi – have stood up against the decision by St John’s College to not fire a teacher who allegedly made racist remarks.

Lesufi said “the school has undermined the dignity of children..” and that “we advised St John’s College to fire the (racist) teacher, They have a 1pm deadline”.

A parent of a current learner at the school told radio presenter Eusebius McKaiser‏ that “as parents we demanded this morning that the teacher be fired with immediate effect!”

An independent senior counsel had found the teacher guilty of making racist remarks… but ordered the teacher be given a final written warning, rather than removing the teacher.

St John’s College headmaster Paul Edey shocked and upset radio listeners when he appeared to shirk responsibility for the decision, shifting all blame to the independent group; and when he described the teacher’s comments as “stereotypical racial remarks”.

Speaking to the Afternoon Drive’s Bongani Bingwa, Edey finally revealed that the comment, said to a black learner, was “you’ve let the side down by doing well in a test”. According to posts on Twitter, there had been other similar comments made by the teacher.

Edey said the school has put in place a set of processes for transformation, which have involved teachers, learners and parents; and when accused by Bingwa of throwing the learners into the “lion’s den” by retaining the teacher, Edey said the learners have been counselled and given psychological support, and that “some of the facts being put out in the media are simply wrong”.

Following the interview, McKaiser‏ tweeted: “I am speechless. I literally had to pause the podcast of the interview @bonglez did with St John’s College headmaster. Unbloodybelievable.”

Learners at the school were today reportedly wearing black arm bands and boycotting inter-house athletics in protest of the decision.

Old Boy Sizwe Mpofu Walsh told McKaiser: “A critical mass of Old Boys have started a campaign to force the school to act decisively…” He said: “When I was deputy head prefect at the school the school ignored my anti-racism policy proposal.”

Another Old Boy Markus Trengove said: “The school has covered it all up and even hired a Bell Pottinger style PR company!”

South African celebrity Redi Tlhabi‏ tweeted: “Some people I know withdrawing their kids from St Johns! More please. I cannot even breathe. The teacher, the staff members supporting him??”

Lesufi said (watch below): “I was deeply unhappy with the conduct of the principal and how he has dealt with it. The principal can’t even distance himself with the situation, this teacher must be removed from the school.” St John’s College has until 1pm to reverse their decision, said Lesufi, adding: “The deadline is set and will not be extended, I need them to retract their public statement and proper answer by 1 pm.”

https://twitter.com/EducationGP/status/890831834732429312

https://twitter.com/ANN7tv/status/890867304623472640