Email

Print

The case of the Muffles College High School teacher whose nudes were leaked has been in the news since the beginning of this year. She had been placed on administrative leave but the Teaching Services Commission got involved and ruled that the teacher be re-instated. Well, she did not get a pleasant welcome back from the school, instead, reports are that the principal made an announcement over the school’s intercom, further shaming the teacher. We asked Minister of Education Patrick Faber about this case and he said while he condemns re-victimizing the teacher, the Ministry can’t get involved in school affairs and that the decision of the Teaching Services Commission must be respected.

Hon. Patrick Faber - Minister of Education
"Well firstly this is a school managed by the Roman Catholic diocese. It is very rare; it is not proper practice for the government to step in to every situation to big stick an approach. In fact, if you look at how schools are managed at the secondary level, there is a managing authority which is the board. So even when a school is owned by the government, like Maud Williams here is owned by the government, the minister can't come here and dictate what's happening. There is a board made up of stakeholders that represent various representatives that represent various stakeholders. They are the ones who deal with these tough issues that come up with the school."

"Again, it's the second time in this interview that I'm using the phrase superman but everybody wants the ministry to swoop down and rescue a situation which not always the case but more importantly not always the legal way of doing things. The matter having been taken to the teaching services commission for consideration and a decision being made by the teaching services commission should be upheld. I notice the teaching services commission is not the Ministry of Education, it is an arm of our education system that again is made up of representation. Managers are on there, parents are on there, the union is on there. So when that decision is made, I want people to understand it's not the Ministry of Education. The decision made by such an entity as it relates to disciplining, not disciplining a teacher is something that schools should respect and respond to. We've have instances where that has not been the case and so, if that is indeed the case in this instance, I've been able to ascertain that for sure. I have heard the very same things that you have said have occurred where the principal may have made worse the situation by calling out the name of the teacher and all of that in the school setting. If that did happen indeed, then I certainly don't condone that but as it is, the situation relates to the posting and all of that. That kind of practice I've gone on the record to say is absolutely wrong. Again, that is one of those situations though that the social media environment now seems to gravitate towards big time and as a society it seems we enjoy this kind of practice of tearing down people."