Submitted by Chuckles
I would like to divert a bit and ask you [Caswell Franklyn] to make your services available to the BSTU/Mary Redman. What is this woman doing to the school children at the Alexandra School?
I was a member of the BWU for about 18 months before I left these shores to take up employment overseas. The first thing the Late Sir Frank Walcott told a group of new members of which I was one, was that the Union doesn’t go on strike until it gets public sympathy and support. Where did this woman do her trade-unionism training? A few weeks ago she was all over the news media trying to defend the indefensible i.e a teacher submitting SBA studies late to the CXC resulting in all the students failing the subject. Today teachers at the institution wouldn’t be in the classroom due to a dispute between her union members and the principal. The biggest Trade Union, NUPW isn’t backing her and from all reports the BUT members not losing a day’s pay over a non-issue.
482 responses to “Alexandra School Dispute – Who Shall Lead The Children?”
Hants
You need to stop taking that Viagra and the little soldier would be at ease on his own, or you could just go and pee. LOL!!
There has long been slackness in our educational system. Oh!!! gosh David. Didn’t we have a school senior teacher/deputy/principal who supervised his outside woman on his staff for 30 years or more.
And the employer did NOTHING to separate the two.
Gosh David. How can a man honestly supervise and honestly evaluate of a woman whom he is fooping on the side???
Unfortunately David we are too often a bunch of jokers who hope that the PEOPLE are idiotic enough to take us seriously.
I believe (know) Mr. Broome is smarter than we credit him to be.. He wants what Sleepy Smith brother received from The Lodge..retirement with plenty $$$ and lotta pomp.
Imagine, on Monday’s Morning Barbados, the first day of action by the BSTU, Mr. Broomes turns up on the set at CBC in a black shirt, ready again to announce news about his “beautiful” gran daughter in the US. (Mathew Farley was present also).
How does he manage to get on the program so often ?..It boggles.Anyway.. when Mr.Doug Hoyte asked him what was going on up at the school, Mr. Broome calmly states “He does’nt know “..with such ease, that Doug had to ask him again.Cassandra ..was amazed so was I ,and I would believe 100,000 other viewers.
As to Hallam King…..he would like a repeat as he got nowhere near
$ 3,000,000.00 Bds… ( See Pg 4. Saturday Sun Jan 7 )
Study it people….Ministry of Education ..please give the man what he wants.This is the third time things went to this stage… and the man is getting anxious now…..EASE HIM the fustration.
good one Caswell but I just making a case for the fellas whose wives think menopause means men must pause too.
Dear Hantsie:
Since according to Mosaic law we no longer find favour with each other we have each written the other bills of divorcement and put them in the other’s hand. So yes the man is free to have an outside woman/or women.
as many as he, his pocket and the Viagra can handle.
Free at last, free at last. Thank the Mother Goddess I am free at last.
David one must carefully pick their fights, try to pick the ones you can win or have an exit plan. I have always been a free thinker and I can easily get a job based on my abilities and my presentation. No one owes me a job nor owns me. I hire out my services for a fee. If I cannot produce to the best of my ability l prefer to leave and try something else. I have never had a job where it was considered safe. Too many of us feel that Government owes us something, like permanent employment . Some will say that having worked many places meant that I was unstable…I say I have more and varied experience than those of who have remained stagnant in their jobs for many years because they were AFRAID to fly.
Jeff Broomes is a fool and should have seen this coming. He must learn that everyone who smiles into your face is not your friend. I was a member of the Old Scholars executive but left out of frustration and disappointment. They did nothing for the school. Mr. Broomes goes all over Barbados seeking and getting sponsorship for teachers (many of the same who are now striking against him have benefitted from his efforts). I know for a fact that every year at least three teachers are given awards that each total in excess of $4000. His efforts are also given to help students benefit from such awards. I remember that on at least three occasions he wrote to us seeking assistance for his staff and students. I cannot remember once that our organization that is now so loud ever saw it possible to give more than $300 (and we have thousands of old scholars). Give me a break. There is no Principal in this country that has done more for the staff and students of the school than Jeff Broomes. His problems are two fold – a Deputy who is still smarting from not getting the job so she backbites and undermines at every turn. A predecessor who never had any backbone and was easily spun on every turn. Mr. Broomes has vision, compasssion and a sense of professional duty. This scandal about being drunk at school has been floated and dismissed before (even by our group who knew the truth). Yes I know he enjoys a rum and coke but he has openly said to us that he has never once and will never taste alcohol on the school premisses. That satisfies me and he is old enough to do what he wants on his own time. Yes i make no apologies for being one old scholar that is a devoted admirer of his. My two cousins who are still at the school beilieve that he is the best thibng since slice bread. As one said to me, he is not afraid to stand at assembly openly tell that he loves them. What humility!
good for you Random Thoughts.
but remember there is “life” after menopause. Old cougars can still have the desire to hunt. lol !
Wiser Now.
You have painted a glowing picture of Broomes but it is irrelevant to the issue being discussed.
He is in charge of a school.
He has a duty to effectively manage the staff based on specific management practices.
If the teachers have proof that he has failed in doing his job or is guilty of abusive or corrupt behaviour he should be “dealt with” by hi boss at the Ministry of Education.
Being nice to some staff and pupils is irrelevant if you are not doing the job you are paid to do.
Hants,
You are so right! I also read the Barbados Today and laughed loudly. Eighty percent of those things written were already discussed at the school and at the Ministry and that I know to be a fact. They were all dismissed or explained in a way that corrected the misrepresentations. I have noticed that Mr. Broomes has been noticeably quiet which is not like him. It hits me that he is preparing to take someone before the law courts.
Is it not strange that his biggest supporters are the students, the parents, the ministry and the non long standing staff members? This is probably because those in the know understand that these issues are fried over two week old black puddin.
Why are we now raising all types of issues when this started because Mr. Broomes chastised a teacher for refusing to teach an assigned class for an entire term? Does this now make him the villain? I was taught by this same teacher and can give many horror stories about this same conduct. She is not called Soldier Crab by accident.
Yes those of my former colleagues who have started calling and cursing me, keep it up but the truth must be told!
@ David there are two Island Girls 1. Islandgirl246 and Island Girl.
@Sandy S and Smooth Chocolate. Hey it is what it is.
If you are inferring that I should ask my father and the other male members of my family that I was molested, then I can safely say I was not.
However we CANNOT under any circumstances stick out heads in the sand and believe that children are not molested (both boys and girls) and exploited in this country, in their homes, at school at play wherever. Indeed it happens throughout the world.
It may be better for me to ask those children if they were molested/exploited and by whom!. I believe if you have them register as sex offenders then if it don’t deter, it would stop a lot of perps from doing the deed. But then that takes us off topic.
I prefer to stay on topic for this issue.
Ladies run your route. I’m a do me and you’ll do you.
@ David
I believe I heard Madamae Mary state that members of the BSTU have many choices on Monday and one of them is to remain on the premises but don’t teach after lunch? I was sleepy when the news started. I want you to confirm that those are her words. If she in fact did make that comment, she is ill-advising her union members. The best thing for all of them to do is to leave the premises if they are taking part in any solidarity action. They can’t have their cake and eat it too i.e they can’t refuse to teach , remain on the premises and expect to be paid for the entire day. If she did not give that advice I am ready to apologize but I am waiting to hear if misunderstood what she said.
With all these NAMES (on post)..Jefff which one are you ?
Some of these comments seems too endearing to your cause and really knows how to twist the TRUTH. ( some of your characteristics).. All I await is a tantrum for conviction.. maybe a GET OUT MY OFFICE NOW ..lol
60 million french men ..can’t be wrong Jeff .. Come on man .. you not getting all that money …nor is the Ministry prepared to send you home yet…MONEY TIGHT..too bad…besides elections coming.
Go spend some FREE time with that sweet lil gran daughter in the United States and write more poems for errrrr.till next year…
Island Girl ….my handle is Islandgal246 and I did hey before you. I don’t want to be rude BUT would like to suggest that you kindly change your handle because it is confusing many on this blog. Get my drift?
Quoting Keith Howard “Study it people….Ministry of Education ..please give the man what he wants.This is the third time things went to this stage… and the man is getting anxious now…..EASE HIM the fustration.”
Not one f*c*i*g cent of my tax money. I have to work too f*c*i*g hard for my money in order to pay taxes and I don’t want a cent of it being mis-used by double-dipping (un)civil servants.
Do you and Hallam, and Jeff think that tax money grows on trees??
@Island Girl | January 7, 2012 at 11:59 AM |
@ David there are two Island Girls 1. Islandgirl246 and Island Girl.
@Sandy S and Smooth Chocolate. Hey it is what it is.
If you are inferring that I should ask my father and the other male members of my family that I was molested, then I can safely say I was not.. I prefer to stay on topic for this issue.”
u were the one who took it off the topic. but i was not suggesting that u were molested. i meant that that the same way u were implying that certain men were doing such then your father and grandfather may have been guilty of what you were implying. don’t you think?
@Chuckles
You continue to throw up Sir Leroy and others as people Redman should consul and aspire.
Please advise if the Royal Shop/Sandy Lane matter is still outstanding and how long it has been running?
Also what about those Harbour Road companies which ignored the BWU in disputes of old?
There are others!
@ David
Ronald Reagan fired 11,000 air traffic controllers and the mightiest trade unions in the world couldn’t do anything about it . Are you supporting Chief Establishment firing all the workers who are reporting for work and not working on Monday as the Royal Suop and Sandy Lane managers did?
Random Thoughts,
In REPLY>>>> Have you ever heard of the Pied Piper ?..that Man ,,with a flute. It would be the return of pure torment for those innocent kids and teachers. ….If the Ministry does not pay the man….We would have another Barrack….You want Jeff to throw another tantrum ? ….This time on the WHOLE A Babadoees. Jeff would go bananas…..nobody in Speighstown or its environs would be SAFE….
Tell me would you rather endure that for a lousy $ 3 million Bds ?
@David
Second request
Kindly find out if Madame Mary did advise the members of the BSTU to report for duty, stay on the premises but don’t teach as part of Monday’s Industrial action? If she did in fact make the statement, I shall have a bit more to add to waht I said before.
No head master can hire teachers unless the baord of management approves, unless the chairman has no balls/
@David
Leroy Trotman is an intl union leader and he has thrown his weight behind many an industrial dispute which he has lost, Mr. Frost is lightweight and i am getting the feeling that frost and redman have other motives which i am sure will come to light shortly.
Why are the students backing mr. broomes. I support the moedoc king their pay. I am calling on NPTA to insist that their children are taught and hold demonstration at the school.
Miss wilson will support her techers but she stand for professionalsm from her teachers.
Because of the Ministry’s poor oversight and management, this debacle has occurred. The only winner in this is Broomes. He has been allowed to piss the teachers off for 6 years, the students have been denied tuition and the good reputation of the school may have been compromised. The only possible outcomes as I see it are:
EITHER, Broomes is promoted to some other job in the Civil Service at the same or higher pay with a reduced workload and then retires with all benefits intact,
OR, Broomes serves out his remaining years at Alexandra (about 2 years I’m told) and retires with all benefits intact.
So either way Broomes comes out a happy camper. Sorry teachers, you (and the students) are going to lose “big time”.
By the way, some years ago, the Deputy Principal at St Leonard’s School (Bradston Clarke) was interdicted and removed from his post. Can anyone shed any light on the outcome of that case? In the case of Hallam King, former Principal at Coleridge and Parry School, he was promoted to a non job in the Attorney General’s Office as a consultant on youth and then retired happily ever after. I wonder why he is advising Broomes to hold firm? I would advise Broomes to negotiate a similar consultancy on say sport and performing arts development among young people and ride into the sunset!
Having read the “grievances” in Barbados Today, the Union’s resolutions on their site and their various statements in the media it’s clear now that the BSTU’s problem isn’t Jeff Broomes it is now clear that the problem lies with
1. All Boards of Management at the Alexandra School from 2006 hence
2. All Secretary /Treasurers at the Alexandra School from 2006 hence
3. All Chief Education Officers from 2006 hence
4. All Deputy Chief Education Officers from 2006 hence
5. All Ministers of Education from 2006 hence
6. All Education Permanent Secretaries from 2006 hence
7. All teachers who chose not to document EACH grievance and individual incident or encounter they’ve had with the principal
8. All teachers who have never followed up EACH complaint they’ve made in the correct manner regarding the principal
9. The management team (Heads and Senior Teachers) of the Alexandra School
10. The Deputy Principal of the Alexandra School
11. The public for having to guess what the issues are and being unclear when presented with them in a disjointed manner.
12. The Chief Personnel Officers
13. All Auditors who acted on behalf of the Board each year and
13. The sections of the Education Regulations which give the Principal certain powers i.e. Paragraph 18 sections a, c, and f
@David re Royal Shop etc.
As Kenny Rogers said, sometimes ya gotta know when to fold em.
My limited knowledge of industrial relations and unionism tells me that they are a delicate mix of politics, justice, law, regulations and process. The BSTU would do well to learn how to mix these if they intend to represent their members properly over serious matters.
DONT you realise that ALL the Systems in Barbados have failed or in the process of failing ???
Quoting Keith Howard “You want Jeff to throw another tantrum ? ….nobody in Speighstown or its environs would be SAFE….Tell me would you rather endure that for a lousy $ 3 million Bds ?”
Mature responsible adults don’t throw tantrums, do they?
Paying Jeff ONE CENT to go away is too much. And $3 million is way, way, way, way too much.
NO MONEY.
NONE.
NOT A CENT.
IF people in a political party in Jamaica complaining that the Cabinet there at 19 or 20 is too big , what about the Barbados ‘Cabinut’ (as st Andrew people would pronounce it)
I really wonder what is the deputy’s role at Alexandra – to condone wrong under the guise of christiantiy? Be careful – remember Mordacai, he built a gallows for himself. Do good and it will attend you. You will reap what you sow. If God wanted to to be the Head, you would have been the head. God wants you to be the tail, He knows there is where your capabilities are. RELAX, LIVE AND LET LIVE.
DONT you know that wunnah cant do Jeff Broomes nothing ??
WANNA bet that none o wunnah aint know what the ass wunnah talking about ??
WHY some people always want to play that they know ??
Alexandra teachers seem to know a lot about Jeff Bromes, but persons in glass houses should not throw stones. There is a teacher on his staff who is seen shut up in a certain office at a St. Peter primary school during school time. TD you are under the radar. Did you ask permission toleave school during those times?
To “Wiser Now” I think that the Soldier Crab needs to be cooked and given to the dogs. How in the name of peace can one pray like Paul and in all good faith rob the tax payers by not doing what she is paid to do. You are living life, stop it now, you cannot serve God and the devil. You will find yourself in the lurch.
Quoting Olivia “If God wanted to to be the Head, you would have been the head. God wants you to be the tail”
More nonsense.
To the best of my knowledge Jeff was appointed princiapl of ALexandra when his buddy Owen Arthur was Prime Minister.
I’ve heard people call Owen many things, but never yet God.
Next thing you will be telling me is that it was God’s will that Hitler was the Chancellor of Germany. God or no God the Americans and the Commonwealth, and a good few Bajans, including my own dad cut his tail into submission.
You should be careful of taking the Lord’s name in vain.
God ain’t got one damn t’ing to do with what is happening at Alexandra.
To “Sandy” I wonder who this TD is? She should be fired. These are the things the Ministry should be looking at. Mr. Broomes is doing his job to the best of his abilitity. You are paid to do your not —- around during the day.
To “Random Thoughts” you seem to be a woman who have been scorned. Please don’t be. Some women were born with it and have it til they die.
Some people are real dogs, no conscience, no principles, no spine… a real foreigner dog, whom Mr. Broomes went out on a limb for to ensure that she got a job… never went home yet, and now she is seen up front striking on Mr. Broomes. Those same people whom she is siding with against Mr. Broomes curse him black is blue when she was hired. This is a real foreigner dog. I give you credit!
To “Mork” I agree that Random Thoughts is a woman who has been scorned. She will do all in her power to dethrone strong-willed men. I know her kind. Let’s get on with the job of enlightening Barbados about the goodnes Mr. Broomes has been doing at Alexandra and Barbados.
As with most things in Barbados now we have surpassed the issues, transcended the facts and descended into personal invective, insults, opinions, unfounded statements and wild diatribe. Sad thing is though that the people and organisations that should know better are just as guilty as the man on the street that doesn’t. This whole situation is an embarrassment for education, unionism, politics, public sector management and labour relations. I hope at some stage we are able to put this behind us and move past it. Clearly though the outcome will leave someone with a huge bruise, a long term black eye and an extremely battered ego. If not handled properly too it just may also leave some teachers out of pocket as well.
God bless Bim.
@Observing
Agree with you and when you think that the individuals responsible for some of the comments above are those entrusted to teach our children or occupy other decision making positions it probably explaines why we find ourselves in this place after several years of stalemate.
You Bear should be shame of yourself bad mouthing Mr. Broomes. The Alexandra posse is only tolerating you becausing you hate Mr. Broomes. They are snobs who would look down on you. They are only using you as a soldier on the frontline. LOL
@Ping Pong
Mr. Clarke won the case against Wendy Griffith Watson and the Govt.
@Chuckles
Not aware, just that industrial action could spread to the other secondary schools.
Quoting Mork | January 7, 2012 at 6:27 PM “To “Random Thoughts” you seem to be a woman who have been scorned. Please don’t be. Some women were born with it and have it til they die.”
I am pleased to tell you that I have all the parts that I was born with, including my BRAIN.
Quoting Wiser now at 11:26 a.m. “Yes I know he enjoys a rum and coke but he has openly said to us that he has never once and will never taste alcohol on the school premisses.”
Thanks for telling us this. I did not know this before.
But the real question is does this principal or any principal consume alcohol during the work day, or within two hours of coming to work, since it takes a human body about 2 hours to metabolize each serving of alcohol, and during that 2 hour window the person who has consumed alcohol will show physical and psychological signs of alcohol consumption, principally slowed reflexes and impaired judgement.
Can you answer this question for us since you seem rather close to Jeff?
Do any of you commenting work or have ever worked under Jeff Broomes? Most people know him as Uncle Jeff and to us he is the epitome of a great educator. How many of us had one view of our teachers – whether good or bad – but if we got to know them in another light, our views changed? I am disappointed in the well-educated Barbadians who cannot or refuse to think beyond their initial reactions look at both sides fairly. We do not work there and we do not know what type of boss Broomes is. He might be a very good educator but be a terrible boss. This isn’t the first time that Alexandra was in the news for this so people should stop making it seem as though the correct procedures weren’t followed. If you follow the stories from the beginning you would realise that the Ministry of Education has made promise after promise to resolve issues and the teachers went to work everyday thinking that something would be done in earnest. But each time they go back the Ministry drags its feet and things get worse. I believe it is for the sake of the children they kept going. But think, how effective can they be under what they describe as hostile unfair conditions. Those humans are hurting and all the uninformed public can say is go back to work and suffer? Which one of you would hush and in a place where you feel abused all because you don’t want to disappoint the clients/customers? Did you ever stop to see the other side of the situation? If Broomes loves the children so much couldn’t he take himself away from the situation. Surely, you must know that if those teachers were to give in and return to school the situation would still not be resolved. Surely you must know that the problems would still be there and some would probably be victimised. I don’t know what will become of it but if both sides are forced to work together there will never be a real resolution.
@ David
Not aware, just that industrial action could spread to the other secondary schools.
Tell me the truth David, did you read the grievances published in Barbados Today? Do you believe that Patrick Frost and Mr. Lett ( the two English teachers whom I know of) edited the contents before they were published?
I laughed till I had a headache when I saw reference to a a female teacher’s ‘Tea Shirt’ . Man not even the Indians on Swan Street , whose first language is Hindi, advertise Tea Shirts for sale.? I believe a piece of furniture missing from Mr. Broomes office is also part of the grievances stated.What next? Was there also a night chair?
@David
The following sentence should be placed in the Guinness Book of records
I, the Head of the Science Department who was on terms leave in the second term 2010-2011, fully expected on my return in Term III to teach the same timetable I had in Term I, but the Principal informed me that he was reassigning Miss Davis to teach part of the timetable of Mrs. Greaves, that he would use Mr. Bryan to teach other parts, and that he was asking me to teach Mr. Bryan’s fourth year Chemistry class.
@Olivia.
” be careful you reap what you sow…..’
You are obviously still living with your head in the clouds with your silly reference to what God wants. It is amazing that you can resort to the simplistic biblical maxim in the light of real-life situations which require a practical real-life solutions.
As far as the reaping/sowing analogy is concerned, you should speak to the numerous farmers who daily cry out about their inability to reap what they sow or, on the other hand, the numerous persons who neither till nor sow but continue to reap.
Please GET REAL…
@ blogger 2012
” Mr Clarke won the case….”
You have misinformed the readers whether deliberately or through ignorance . The facts are that MR CLARKE LOST THE CASE both at trial AND appeal. it is uncertain if he has now gone to the CCJ but his failure is a matter of PUBLIC RECORD which I am surprised that an active poster like you are unaware of.
@ David
It was nice having some light-hearted exchanges with you on this particular topic. Not sure when again I will touch base since I shall be flying out to Toronto later today to stay with a cousin who recently had hip-replacement surgery. He lives alone and not interested in DSL or ADSL . . His library is his internet. LOL. I am seeing some sub-zero temperatures on tv in that neck of the woods but I am not too worried since I spent most of my adult life in the cold.
i wish Madame Mary and her team the best of luck in their attempt to have the principal removed. Right now it looks like it can only be done physically since there are no legal grounds in their grievances for so doing. Then again there is a company which boasts ‘We move the earth to please” . Who knows? It is possible that Mr. Broomes’ bosses might move the man to please.
@Chuckles
Bon voyage but you must be aware that technology facilitates access to the Internet despite your challenge 🙂
Call Rogers which you land.