And in other news, yesterday we told you about a press release from the Belize National Teachers Union, standing in solidarity with Joanne Ysaguirre, a teacher who was pushed over the edge by her school's administration.
In Ysaguirre's tearful video, she explained the issues she has had to deal with over the past few months, starting with a meeting - during which she was not present - that threatened to take away 30 minutes out of her lunch hour and forced her to stay on campus for the other 30. She and other teachers who were not at the meeting felt their rights were being violated, since they did not get a say, and as such, contacted legal aid.
And there was also the issue of teachers having to call the administration before using the bathroom, because the children couldn't be left unattended at any point. And on top of that, Ysaguirre was also penalized for not attending an apparently mandatory church service on Mother's Day, though she was feeling ill.
All of this culminated when her local manager scolded her - months later - causing her to have a breakdown.
And according to BNTU's general secretary, the school's management is way out of line:
Kesha Young Flowers - General Secretary
"The issue of the lunch hour. Teachers are entitled to an hour lunch period and within that hour lunch period, they should be able to do whatever they feel they need to do for that time. The management, however, or the administration can ask the teacher, and this is the discussion I had with the principal and vice principal at the onset of this issue. That if you are going to infringe on a teacher's time then you need to get that teacher's permission, you have to get that buy-in. And these teachers were only getting correspondences telling them that this is the new norm for them. So I tried to get both principal and vice principal to have a sit down with the teachers. Ask me for my time, don't just take my time away from me because you're taking away my rightful time. The administration was saying because they needed to call because they can't leave the kids unattended, especially during this COVID time, and again that was another issue I had discussion with both principal and vice principal as well, that you cannot be requiring a teacher to call the office to go to the restroom. It's ridiculous. We understand that we are living in a new time, a new age, and these are not circumstances that had ever happened before, so we understand that management an administration are trying their best to put things in place that would secure the safety of everyone. However, like I said, the rules are clear to address certain situations and if it is that a teacher's right is being infringed upon in any way, it can't just be taken away, that teacher has to give permission."
And BNTU's president, Elena Smith, said that she was in tears while listening to Ysaguirre's video, and she now awaits the outcome of the investigation:
Elena Smith - President, BNTU
"I think the first thought was frustration. The teacher couldn't take anymore and I guess that was her way of venting, releasing some of what she was experiencing and one of pain because we understand fully that our teachers do go through these things and many of them do so but they say nothing and that may be for fear of losing a job or any repercussions that may come with them speaking out so, it was really and truly a painful testimony to listen to. The bishop has informed that they will be conducted their internal investigation and we will be raising with him and his team at the end of their investigation to see what it is we would be able to assist with as a union because at the end of the day what must be understood is that these teachers have a right to come to their union, they don't have to go their managements first. We are expecting that in going through these investigations and determining the outcome of the matter that we expect that the union is going to be involved, is going to be invited along with the ministry and of course with the management to look at the results of the investigation and to determine what would be the best possible course for all involved."
Ysaguirre had to be hospitalized after recording the video.
