This makes NO SENSE. A school, even a private school, does not suspend a child "just so".
https://www.guardian.co.tt/news/boy-9-b ... 6553408593Boy, 9, back in school following court orderby
13 hours ago
Thu Feb 13 2020
SASCHA WILSON
A nine-year-old boy who was expelled from a private school almost two weeks ago because he complained about being bullied returned to classes yesterday following a court order. Justice Frank Seepersad granted an interim injunction on Tuesday night ordering the Cedar Grove Private Primary School to reinstate the Grade 3 student.
At around 8 am yesterday, a court marshal served the order on officials at the school in Palmiste, following which the child was dropped off by his parents. Named as defendants in the lawsuit challenging the school’s decision to expel the child are the school, chairman Flair Rampersad, Shaheed Allaham and teachers Jenny Ramkissoon and Allison Sebro-Baptiste.
In granting the order, Justice Seepersad said that bullying is a serious issue.
“Any child who makes such a complaint should be taken seriously. In this case, the court feels with a high degree of assurance that it will be established that the child was bullied. There is medical evidence which supports his claim of being struck on the arm and there is no evidence to suggest the child has physiological issues,” he said.
“Our children must be protected and a school should be a safe haven. No child should be ridiculed for advancing a legitimate complaint and the balance of convenience favours the granting of injunctive relief so as to ensure the rights of the child to and education is preserved.”
The judge added that the child must also be provided with all the class notes and educational materials he would have missed. The principal was ordered to “ensure the physical and emotional wellbeing and safety” of the child at school and “refrain from making disparaging remarks or accusing the child publicly or privately of being a liar or of fabricating events or complaints of bullying and intimidation.”
The child, an A student, only started attending the school on January 13 after his parents paid $9,700 in fees. According to the court documents, on January 17 he was walking to his class with his lunch when the door of the Grade 4 class was forcefully kicked open by an older boy. The door struck him on his arm, causing him to fall to the ground and he began crying. The boy said the older boy’s friend, who is also in Grade 4, followed him a few times and sent a student to tell him he was a “load of crap.” She also called him an idiot.
The boy’s parents claimed the school also refused to take any disciplinary action against the students or arrange a meeting with their parents. In his affidavit, the boy’s mother said the principal accused her son of being a liar and sent his son to the Grade 4 class where Ramkissoon and Sebro-Baptiste told the class he was a liar, made up stories about the two children and could not hear well.
On February 3, the boy’s father was informed via email of his son’s expulsion. He said the entire incident has left his son traumatised and he has received counselling.
https://trinidadexpress.com/newsextra/j ... edebf.htmlJudge orders return of 'bullied' child to Cedar Grove Private SchoolNikita Braxton-Benjamin Feb 12, 2020
A COURT order was served on a private primary school this morning for the return of a pupil who was expelled after he complained of being bullied.
The principal of the school has been ordered to refrain from accusing the child of being a liar and fabricating events or complaints of bullying.
Last night, after reading the claimants’ certificate of urgency and notice of application filed yesterday, Justice Frank Seepersad deemed the ex-parte application urgent and that it warranted ex-parte relief.
The judge said, "Bullying is a serious issue. Any child who makes such a complaint should be taken seriously. In this case, the court feels with a high degree of assurance, that it will be established that the child was bullied. There is medical evidence which supports his claim of being struck on the arm and there is no evidence to suggest the child has physiological issues. Our children should be protected and school should be a safe haven. No child should be ridiculed for advancing a legitimate complaint and the balance of convenience favours the granting of injunctive relief so as to ensure the rights of the child to an education is preserved."
The matter was filed by the nine-year-old's parents against Cedar Grove Primary School, the Chairman of the board, Flair Rampersad, the school’s principal, Shaheed Allaham and teachers, Allison Sebro-Baptiste and Jenny Ramkissoon.
Justice Seepersad ordered that from 8 a.m. today, the principal and teachers at the school be directed that the child is to be allowed full access to school, until the hearing and determination of the inter-parte hearing. This hearing shall be fixed by the judge or until further order of the court.
The school, Rampersad and Allaham were also directed that all class notes and education materials be supplied to the students of grade three between February 1 to 11, be copied and supplied to the child before 4 p.m. tomorrow.
It was also ordered that Allaham ensure the physical and emotional well-being and safety of the child during the period that he is in the care of the educational institution and “shall refrain from making disparaging remarks or accusing the child publicly or privately of being a liar or of fabricating events or complaints of bullying and intimidation.”
The matter was filed following an alleged incident last January 17, the fifth day of the child attending the school.
It was alleged that the grade three child was walking to class with a box of fries and nuggets from the school’s cafeteria when he was struck by the door and handle of the grade four class after it was kicked open by a student of the class. This student and others allegedly laughed while the grade three child who was allegedly struck on the arm and fell on the ground, got up and ran away crying. He was also later allegedly verbally assaulted by a child who claimed she was the best friend of the child who kicked the door. The grade three child’s parents took him for medical attention the following day.
He was later allegedly told by the teachers that he was a troublemaker and as not hearing well and made to apologize to the grade four class. It was also alleged that the principal told him he was “making up stories”.
The parents, who had been communicating with the school on the alleged issue, had a meeting on January 29 with Rampersad and Allaham. The parents who had sought legal advice, told them that they should do the same.
By letter dated January 31, the child was expelled from the school.
Last Monday, the claimants issued a pre-action protocol letter asking for a response the same day but there was no acknowledgment of the correspondence. The following day a quorum member of the board wrote an email reiterating the expulsion of the child.
As part of Seepersad's order, the claimants are to file and serve claim forms and statements of case on or before Monday at 4p.m.
https://newsday.co.tt/2020/02/12/judge- ... dar-grove/Judge grants injunction against Cedar GroveAZARD ALI
A High Court judge on Tuesday night granted an injunction against Cedar Grove Primary School restraining the principal and teachers from preventing a child from attending on Wednesday morning.
Justice Frank Seepersad, in granting the order at about 9 pm, said the ten-year-old boy was expelled from the private school after his mother, an attorney, complained that he was being bullied.
She sought an injunction which was granted. Seepersad ordered that the grade three pupil be allowed back in school until the hearing and determination of the case.
The judge said, "Bullying is a serious issue. Any child who makes such a complaint should be taken seriously. In this case, the court feels with a high degree of assurance that it will be established that the child was bullied. There is medical evidence which supports his claim of being struck on the arm, and there is no evidence to suggest that the child has psychological issues. Our children must be protected and school should be a safe haven.
"No child should be ridiculed for advancing a legitimate complaint, and the balance of convenience favours the granting of injunctive relief so as to ensure the rights of the child to an education."
The injunction is to be served on Cedar Grove's principal Shaheed Allaham and other named parties to the action – Flair Rampersad, Allison Sebro-Baptiste and Jenny Ramkissoon.
Cedar Grove is located in Palmiste, on the outskirts of San Fernando.
Newsday will be following the court case in which the school's administration has been ordered to respond to the injunction.
