Dear Editor,
A lot has been written and said about St Hilda's High School's decision to strip the current head girl of her position. Interestingly, many Jamaicans were unfamiliar with the name of this Anglican-affiliated high school prior to this situation. However, after hearing comments by the chairman of the school board I am confused.
One thing is very clear, and that is the principal's decision to revoke the position of head girl was based on a "potential" conflict. I did not know the gift of prophecy/foresight was one of the competencies for one to become a principal.
Even if the student in question is a Jehovah's Witness, this should not have excluded her from becoming head girl if it is that she is deserving of such an honour. We need to ask some serious questions such as has the schools administration thought about the psychological damage their decision will have on this young girl for the rest of her life? I guess this was not a concern of the school. Is the decision of St Hilda's just a case of discrimination or classism?
St Hilda's High School, as far as I know, is not a private school and as such the public deserves to hear the full story regarding the issue.
The road to becoming head girl is process which usually begins in first form. Students are monitored and mentored in order to take up the position of head prefect at all schools much less a traditional high school such as St Hilda's. As a church-based school one would have thought that forgiveness as a virtue would be high on the value chain of the school's hidden curriculum. Whatever the youngster would have said in the meeting with the principal there seems to have been a rather hasty decision to strip this girl of the position of head girl. Children have rights too. I hope both parties can arrive at an amicable solution very soon. Our schools face many serious issues which need urgent attention and this distraction is most unwelcomed at this time.
Wayne Campbell
waykam@yahoo.com
@WayneCamo
Resolve head girl issue
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A lot has been written and said about St Hilda's High School's decision to strip the current head girl of her position. Interestingly, many Jamaicans were unfamiliar with the name of this Anglican-affiliated high school prior to this situation. However, after hearing comments by the chairman of the school board I am confused.
One thing is very clear, and that is the principal's decision to revoke the position of head girl was based on a "potential" conflict. I did not know the gift of prophecy/foresight was one of the competencies for one to become a principal.
Even if the student in question is a Jehovah's Witness, this should not have excluded her from becoming head girl if it is that she is deserving of such an honour. We need to ask some serious questions such as has the schools administration thought about the psychological damage their decision will have on this young girl for the rest of her life? I guess this was not a concern of the school. Is the decision of St Hilda's just a case of discrimination or classism?
St Hilda's High School, as far as I know, is not a private school and as such the public deserves to hear the full story regarding the issue.
The road to becoming head girl is process which usually begins in first form. Students are monitored and mentored in order to take up the position of head prefect at all schools much less a traditional high school such as St Hilda's. As a church-based school one would have thought that forgiveness as a virtue would be high on the value chain of the school's hidden curriculum. Whatever the youngster would have said in the meeting with the principal there seems to have been a rather hasty decision to strip this girl of the position of head girl. Children have rights too. I hope both parties can arrive at an amicable solution very soon. Our schools face many serious issues which need urgent attention and this distraction is most unwelcomed at this time.
Wayne Campbell
waykam@yahoo.com
@WayneCamo
Resolve head girl issue
-->