Calder High pupils in walk-out protest in support of suspended teachers
Pupils at Calder Valley High School in Mytholmroyd, West Yorkshire have staged a protest walk-out in protest at the suspension of two teachers – Mrs Rusty and Mr Cann. Over 250 students were involved in the protest in a fantastic show of support for the teachers.
Calum Paramor, a Year 11 student who helped to organise the demo, said: “This is about standing up for what we believe in and sticking up for someone we care for … This is about an excellent teacher – a teacher who got the very best out of every pupil she worked with – being treated appallingly. It’s nearly two months since she was suspended and we still have not been told what’s going on.”
We applaud the students who took this action. Far too often, high school students are treated as though they should not have political opinions, or at least not attempt to put them into practice. School students must have a real say in the running of their schools. This cannot be achieved through tame school councils which are tied to school management, it can only come through students organising their own independent organisations. We are for the democratic control of schools by the workers and students.
We must also ask, in whose interest is it that students are kept silent and depoliticised? It is in the interest of the state and the capitalist class which it represents. In this sense it is no surprise that the police were brought in to bring an end to this protest. If today’s schools were really about preparing young people to lead a full adult life then they would encourage vigorous debate, argument and the taking of political action.
In reality – despite the attempts of some fantastic teachers – the school system as a whole serves as a means a preparing most young people for a life of wage slavery. Employers do not want young people who think independently and know how to challenge authority. They want employees trained in doing what they are told irrespective of their own interests. We say that young people deserve something better.
Below is some video footage and the local paper’s report of the protests at Calder High:
Police called in as 250 pupils strike over suspension of second teacher
Published Date:
The youngsters, who waved home-made banners and chanted songs for two hours, only stopped when police warned them they were truanting.
Even then, dozens aged between 12 and 18 continued to strike on school grounds.
Calum Paramor, a Year 11 student who helped to organise the demo through social networking sites, said: “This is about standing up for what we believe in and sticking up for someone we care for.”
They held the protest in support of English teacher Leonora Rustamova, known to pupils as Miss Rusty.
She was suspended at the end of January and is currently being investigated after publishing a book, Stop! Don’t Read This, which featured students from the 1,300-pupil school.
Another teacher, Steve Cann, an English master, has also been suspended.
Calum, 16, a member of Calderdale’s Youth Parliament, added: “Whether Miss Rusty was right or wrong to publish the book is irrelevant now.
“This is about an excellent teacher – a teacher who got the very best out of every pupil she worked with – being treated appallingly.
“It’s nearly two months since she was suspended and we still have not been told what’s going on.
“All we want is for her to be treated fairly and for the school to be more open about what is going on.”
Another pupil, Brittany Cartwright, 16, of Todmorden, added: “She’s more than a teacher. She’s been a counsellor, adviser and friend to me.”
She said the book had been written to encourage youngsters to read.
The school said although it recognised the concerns of pupils, there were complex legal reasons why the investigation could not be opened up to pupils.
Head teacher Stephen Ball said: “I do understand that a group of students wishes to express its support for teachers with whom they have worked for some time.
“However it would be wrong of me to take any action other than that which is consistent with my professional responsibilities.
“In considering the matters under investigation, I will always ensure the wellbeing of our students is paramount.
“Nothing is more important than their safety and welfare.
“The teachers at the centre of this matter are professionally represented and advised and it is in their interests that I continue to respect their entitlement to confidentiality.
“I have no intention of imposing any sanctions on the young people involved in the protest.
“While they represent a small proportion of our large student body, I recognise that their intentions are principled. Clearly they have expressed their views and they have been heard.
“I would now urge them to return to the important work they have in school, preparing for examinations.”
Police said officers were called by a motorist. “Police were called to reports of a disturbance outside a school in Mytholmroyd at 9.20am.
“Officers maintained a high-visibility presence to reassure the public.”
Were the students right to demonstrate? Vote now in our poll on the right.
- Source: Evening Courier
- Location: Halifax
You can also comment on this issue here
By the way, isn’t it a violation of Johnston Press’ copyright to replublish their article? Their terms and conditions are fairly clear about such things.
I’m a parent whose son is involved and I agree that it is good to see school students be politically aware and active. However this is not really a political cause. It is an understandable emotional response to having two well liked teachers suspended pending the enquiry. The things that the students are demanding are unfortunately not in the powers of the school to fulfil because they are working to strict guidelines agreed with the Trades Union (not a fascist organisation last time I checked), which include complete confidentiality for the individuals undergoing investigation (hence no information available). Obviously the two teachers cannot be either reinstated or dismissed until the enquiry has run its due process and that timescale is in large part driven by the Trades Union to ensure that they can represent the two teachers in the best way. Unfortunately there are unscrupulous adults ‘advising’ the students when planning direct action, who have conveniently left out this part of the legal picture in their advice.
Tessa is absolutely correct, there are glaring omissions in the reporting of this issue. And the local commentary and direct action is also being tightly controlled by a select few. The support of these teachers by the students is to be truly commended, however, it has been undertaken on a false premise. Don’t believe the hype.
If you want unscrupulous adults tessa, then what about the headteacher that endorsed the book until the press turned on it, and was head of the investigation despite being required to be neutral?
Or the fact that the issue could have been flattened out quietly if the press hadn’t got involved?
Or that some students who had depended on the two teachers’ guidance for A levels and GCSE work were left hanging, untill overworked substitutes were hastily found. This caused a massive unnececary disruption because of kneejerk reactions of molycoddling parents.
Finally, I’d like to add that the students may have been supported by adults, but we acted alone. And I don’t think there was any sort of communist undertone to the protest, so why’s it on here?