Penwood High School, Rhoden Cresent, Olympic Gardens, West Central St. Andrew, where the senior guidance counsellor and assistant bursar were involved in a brawl. - Norman Grindley/ Deputy Chief Photographer
MRS. CARTY TOLD The Sunday Gleaner that it was almost lunchtime and she was about to dismiss her class when Mr. Burrell visited the classroom and demanded that she attend a meeting, which he was about to chair. She said that he also wanted the keys to the science department, where the meeting was to be held, because he did not have a key to gain entry. Mrs. Carty said she told him that she was going to lock up the classroom. She then went to the teacher's desk with the lock and keys in her hands and the principal followed her. An argument developed between the two. "By this time, the principal menacingly grabbed me by the hand and pulled the keys," she said.
"The principal then held on to both of my hands, grabbing at the keys, squeezing me on the hands ... jerking me because I held on to the keys," she explained.
SCREAMING
The teacher said she began to scream for the other teachers to help her.
Mrs. Carty said the principal eventually got the keys, which she began to demand in order for her to lock up the classroom.
"The principal put the keys in his back pocket then took them out of his pocket and headed towards the door," she said.
Mrs. Carty continued: "I grabbed at the keys and the principal held me at the door by my two hands pushing his thumb into my flesh, blodshoting the area between my thumb and index finger on the right hand,".
This she said was done in the clear view of students and teachers.
The teacher of 25 years said she reported the matter to the police who advised her to take out a summons against the principal.
Contacted recently, Mr. Burrell admitted that an incident did occur between him and Mrs. Carty but noted that she was the one who pounced upon him and he had to restrain her by holding her hands.
THE PRINICIPAL'S STORY
He explained that he went to the classroom to get the keys for the lab where the meeting was to be held. Mr. Burrell said he saw the keys for the preparation room, on the table and picked them up.
"As I was exiting the room, Mrs. Carty went in front of me and pushed me in the chest," he explained.
"I held her by the wrist and told her to calm down and behave herself. After she calmed down, I released her and proceeded to my office."
The principal said Mrs. Carty then walked behind him and hit him in his back. "I turned around and she hit me in the face ...".
Mr. Burrell noted that Mrs. Carty has not attended a single class since February 26 of this year, although she is at school every day and has refused to accept any correspondence from the administration.
He told The Sunday Gleaner that she has had a long-standing disciplinary problem and he has taken her to the board for insubordination and neglect of duty, "But based on technicalities, the board was not able to take action against her."
PAY CHEQUE WITHHELD
The science teacher also said that the principal withheld her pay cheque.
Mr. Burrell admitted that he returned Mrs. Carty's cheque for September and October to the Ministry of Education based on advice that he was given.
Another incident also took place at the school in June, allegedly, involving the senior guidance counsellor and the assistant bursar.
"It is very unfortunate that these incidents have taken place (but) I would not say that this characterises the situation at Penwood," said Mr. Burrell.
