The Editor, Sir:

Several media houses have reported that Ms. Marjorie Richards took her 88-year-old mother to U.S.A. for medical treatment. But she did not seek special leave to take her mother for medical treatment aboard.

Ms. Richard's mother was robbed and beaten in early October 2005. Checks with Ms. Richards up to December revealed that her mother had recovered well from the attack. On May 3, 2006, Ms. Richards requested emergency leave for one month, May 10-June 10, 2006, to deal with personal family matters.

This request for leave was duly signed by the principal and chairman and forwarded to the Ministry of Education, Regional Office. On June 14, 2006, the Regional Office requested of her to send documentary evidence to support her request.

In her letter of July 24, 2006, her response to the ministry contained two statements: (a) That her 91-year-old mother was severely injured and traumatised as a result of being mugged in October 2005. Because of fear, stress and other traumatic health problems, they were not able to stay at their house;(b) All of their travel documents were taken and in order to replace them, the American Embassy provided a letter for travel and requested them to be in Florida by May 11, 2006, and what they thought would take a month was not yet achieved.

On the contrary

It must be stated that contrary to the article on Page 2 of The Gleaner of October 5, 2007, Ms. Richards did not keep the school nor the chairman informed of her mother's situation or any other situation. If she did, why would she not learn that she was required to return to her job on October 17, 2006?

Sir, why should the taxpayers of this country and the students of the Ocho Rios High School, in particular, put up with a teacher who is prepared to stay in America for eight months without approval, awaiting U.S. travel documents? It is the responsibility of every teacher to secure leave before taking it.

It is very unfortunate when lawyers choose to make their interpretation of the laws governing teachers' contract, so that the school board's decision is thrown out. This is a bad precedent that had been set and will haunt the education system in future.

I am, etc.,

MONICA McINTYRE (Mrs.)

Principal

Ocho Rios High School