Lowmans Wd Anglican School PTA cries foul

The Lowmans Windward Anglican School Parent Teachers Association has described the transfer of that school’s Head Teacher as “an act of spite/victimization” and is threatening to take to the streets of Kingstown in a protest if needs be.{{more}}

Last Monday the school’s PTA sent a Press Release to all media houses under the caption ‘Transfer of Principal’ stating that the transfer of Otto Sam, who has been at the helm of the school for the past four years, is “ill-timed and damaging to the students and the entire school community”.

When contacted on Tuesday, Sam confirmed that he had indeed been transferred to the South River’s Methodist School, effective August 3rd, 2009.

“I know it is politically motivated,” said Sam.

“It is seen as punishment, but for me it is not punishment,” he stated, and added, “I know where this generated from.”

Sam, who is no stranger to controversy, said his school was one of the schools that had supported the Teachers’ Union strike on the issue of the Re-Classification exercise.

Sam told SEARCHLIGHT that he leaves the Lowman’s Windward Anglican School at a time when the Grade Six class, of which he was one of the teachers, attained a record pass rate of 72 per cent or 22 per cent above the national average. He said he is expecting the class of 2010 to score a pass rate of 85 to 90 per cent.

“Me myself, I am not hurt in any way because this means that I’ll just get another opportunity to shine,” said Sam.

Juliet Jacobs, President of the School’s PTA told SEARCHLIGHT the PTA sees no educational basis for the transfer and urges the authorities, namely the Prime Minister Dr.Ralph Gonsalves, Education Minister Girlyn Miguel and South Central Windward Representative(s), Selmon Walters and Senator Saboto Caesar “to rescind this sad and most unfortunate act”.

She said the PTA is waiting on the Ministry of Education for a response to a letter sent to that ministry before any further steps are taken.

“We are ready to march in Kingstown with placards. If we have to do it we will,” said Jacobs, adding “We don’t want to go down that road, but if we have to we will”.

Jacobs said the PTA is opposed to Sam’s transfer on several grounds, but the main ones relate to the school being left without a Grade Six teacher, as the other Grade Six teacher, Lynette Johnson, is on leave until November 2009. She added that this void is being left at the most important period of the school term.

“We feel bad for our children. To remove both of them (Sam and Johnson) is sad,” said Jacobs.

Meanwhile, the Press Release stated that the PTA has total confidence in Sam, “who has done excellent work since assuming the leadership of the school”.

He has been credited with many successes including: Moving the school from struggling low percentage (below 30%) in the Common Entrance to an average of 70% in the last three years; revising, energizing, and inspiring the PTA; introducing Easter Educational Camp for Grade Six students; introducing annual Grade Six Celebration Trips and Graduation Dinner, where parents, students, teachers and community mingle and celebrate the school’s successes and initiating classroom teaching by the Head Teacher himself.