FREEPORT, Grand Bahama – Scores of teachers and parents marched in silent protest outside Freeport’s Garnet Levarity Justice center yesterday, as Christopher Humes appeared before Magistrate Franklyn Williams, charged with grievous harm in the Monday afternoon attack on St. George’s High School Vice Principal Kenneth Romer.
Joined by Area Vice President of the Bahamas Union of Teachers Francis Friend, educators of the St. George’s High School stood in support of Mr. Romer, who sustained a broken nose and facial lacerations after being attacked by a parent and his associate.
Shortly after 3 p.m Monday afternoon, an altercation occurred between a seventh grade male student and female student of the school, at which time Mr. Romer intervened, according to Principal of St. George’s High School Mary Cooper.
Mrs. Cooper told the Journal Tuesday that Mr. Romer had taken the male student into his office to speak with him regarding his behavior in the incident, when a cousin of the student contacted the boy’s father.
Mrs. Cooper said two men arrived on the school’s campus, one of whom was the father of the student being disciplined in the earlier altercation. District Superintendent of Education Cecil Thompson told the Journal, that both men requested to see Mr. Romer, at which point they reportedly barged into the vice principal’s office and subsequently attacked him.
Humes, the father of the student disciplined during the Monday afternoon altercation, was on bail for drug possession charges at the time of his alleged involvement in the attack. He pled not guilty to the charge of causing grievous harm and was denied bail in this case by Magistrate Franklyn Williams.
He was ordered remanded to Her Majesty’s Prison to await a summary trial scheduled for July 2.
Outside the courts, some of the protestors voiced strong opinions. “This is horrible,” a concerned parent told the Journal. “What kind of message is this sending to children when parents do things like this?” Another parent noted, “This is why these children do these things; it starts in the home. How can you tell your child to respect authority when you don’t?” According to Ms. Friend, more must be done to protect educators.
“The teachers of the school are very upset over this incident,” she said. “We have met with the teachers and will make suggestions to the Ministry of Education regarding increased security at the school.”
According to Ms. Friend, teachers of the St. George’s High School expressed concern during Tuesday morning meetings, regarding the ease with which outsiders can acquire access to staff offices. Ms. Friend noted that teachers on Grand Bahama have for some time now been lamenting the lack of adequate security provisions on school campuses around the island.
During Thursday’s demonstration, District Superintendent of Education Cecil Thompson spoke to participants, commending them for their show of solidarity and support. According to Mr. Thompson, the demonstration was the right thing to do because the attack on Mr. Romer ought not to have occurred.
“We are outraged by what was happened,” Mr. Thompson told the Journal. “The Ministry of Education will use all of the resources at its disposal to see that justice is done in the courts regarding this savage attack,” he said.
Mr. Thompson sternly affirmed the Ministry’s position that such actions would not be tolerated from parents or students, a sentiment echoed by Principal Mary Cooper.
“We will not accept this type of behavior,” Mrs. Cooper stated. “Students of the school are also shocked and surprised about the incident. The students of St. George’s High School are generally well behaved, although we tend to have consistent problems with about 50 of our students.”
On Tuesday, a special assembly was held at the high school, where members of the clergy as well as Ministry of Education officials addressed students. Mrs. Cooper noted that most of the students responded favorably to the assembly, which was designed to make them aware of the inappropriateness of Monday afternoon’s incident.
Grand Bahama police officials are also supporting educators on the island. Superintendent Leland Russell, officer in charge of the Eastern Division of Police on the island told the Journal that he paid a visit to the St. George’s High School and met with the principal.
“I went to the school to ensure that all is well there, and to help to prevent such an occurrence from possibly happening again,” he noted. “I assured Mrs. Cooper that we are here for her and I have re-affirmed the commitment of continued police presence at that institution,” he said.
Superintendent Russell also visited Vice Principal Kenneth Romer. “He is in high spirits. He is not at all discouraged by what has happened,” Mr. Russell stated. “He did not understand why a parent would attack him without knowing the facts of what had happened, but he plans to return to work and continue on with his responsibilities.”
A second suspect in the St. George’s High School incident is expected to be formally arraigned some time this week.
By Sharon Williams, The Bahama Journal
