President of John Mills Primary PTA says parents ready to pull their children if principal is reinstated
HEAD of the Parent Teachers’ Association (PTA) of John Mills Primary and Junior High School Mark Trought says parents are fully prepared to withdraw their children from the institution and stage a protest if suspended Principal Bradly Robinson, who was recently freed of pornography charges, is allowed to return to the school.
“We do not want him to return as principal. We are saying yes, the courts have freed him, but we are of the position that he should not return to the school,” Trought told the Jamaica Observer.
In 2014 Robinson was arrested and charged by detectives from the Centre for the Investigation of Sexual Offences and Child Abuse (CISOCA) following allegations that he was communicating with a student at the institution by sending her lewd photos via WhatsApp. He was suspended as principal pending the outcome of the case.
When the matter was brought to court in October, Robinson’s attorney Hugh Wildman argued that his client should be freed because the nine-year delay in trying the case was a breach of his constitutional rights.
The prosecution was given a week to respond to the attorney’s application, but on October 18 informed presiding judge, Justice Sonia Bertram Linton, they were not offering any further evidence against the principal. Robinson was discharged.
Wildman then implored the judge to return a formal verdict of not guilty and the judge granted the order.
Trought noted that the judge has yet to make a written judgment and the chairman of the school board has refused to act until this is done, claiming that his hands are tied.
“As a member of the board and PTA president of the school, I vehemently disagree with the chairman, Dr Adolph Cameron, that the board hands are tied in the matter. The chairman is of the view that since the court has decided to dismiss the case then the board has no other alternative but to allow Robinson to return to the school in his substantive post without even a personnel committee hearing to decide if he is still fit and proper to remain as principal,” said Trought.
He argued that the board should not wait on the formal verdict, but act immediately to have a proactive response.
“We don’t know how fast Mr Robinson will act as soon as the written judgment is made out. If it comes in the morning, he could come back to school in the afternoon — we don’t know. That’s why we are asking the chairman to let us have a board position before the written judgment, but he says he is waiting and I think that is not a responsible position to take by the board,” added Trought.
“We should prepare ourself for what the written judgment is going to be, seeing that we know what the oral judgment is — the case was dismissed. We are of the thought that if he [Dr Cameron] is not preparing us to look at the matter in a responsible manner, then we think that he is aiding and abetting the return of the principal,” argued Trought.
When contacted by the Observer for a response on whether the board would reinstate Robinson, Dr Cameron said he had no comment. He also refused to provide a comment on all questions relating to the topic.
Trought, however, further expressed concern that many parents were not made aware about Robinson’s case and the possibility of his return. He stated that while a meeting was had with members of staff, there was no communication to parents about the matter.
“At my executive meeting and meeting with the parents last week I had to tell them about the situation because it was the first they were hearing about it. They were willing to move their child immediately,” said Trought.
He stressed that Robinson must face a fit and proper panel.
“If the principal is fired by the board, we feel he has the option to appeal as every human being have that right. Let him appeal it, but don’t tell me that your hands are tied. Fire him and make him appeal. Don’t tell me as chairman that you are hoping he will go away quietly,” said Trought.
“What message are we sending to the children? Does anyone even care? This is a school with children who mostly reside in the inner city. Poor people pickney so vulnerable in many ways. There are numerous allegations that other staff members have abused children in the past and have been let off the hook and I hear at least one is cheerleading the return of Robinson. What are we doing here?” he questioned.
Trought said in protest, he has taken action to remove his child from the institution, but will remain as president to represent the interest of other parents who elected him. However, if Robinson is reinstated, he said that he will step down as president.
He further noted that a meeting is scheduled for this week where parents and executive members will be presented with an agreement to sign which states that if Robinson is reinstated they will pull their children from the school and engage in protest.
“The principal [Robinson] cannot return as principal to the school,” declared Trought.
TROUGHT…the courts have freed him, but we are of the position that he should not return to the school
