Popular teacher loses job over pregnancy
(CNS): Parents concerned over the loss of a popular teacher at a local private school have started an on-line petition, hoping to change the school board’s position and persuade them to renew her contract. As of 4pm on Thursday afternoon 170 people had signed the petition asking that the Cayman Prep and High School board renew the contract of Bryony Platt, whom they described as an “a wonderful experienced teacher who has proven many times over that she is an asset to the school” for the 2014/15 academic year. CNS understands Platt, who has been at the school for several years, did not have her contract renewed as she is expecting a baby but is unmarried.
Cayman Prep’s board of governors issued a statement Thursday which said very little about the circumstances surrounding the decision. Platt is understood to be a well-liked, competent and experienced teacher who has done nothing in the course of her work for the board to decide she is no longer able to teach.
However, it appears that the board, which is appointed by the United Church in Jamaica and the Cayman Islands and described as being “balanced by representatives” from the PTA, decided not to renew her contract purely as a result of her personal circumstances.
In its statement the school says nothing at all about Platt, her pregnancy or the reasons for not renewing her contract. It implies the PTA members on the board of governors are in support but other sources tell CNS this is not the case and some have resigned.
Although parents were reluctant to go on record about what has happened, it is understood that the wider PTA is not in support of the board’s decision, which some parents say undermines the values the school is meant to be promoting to students.
Along with the more than 170 signatures from parents and others supporting Platt, the petition has attracted a number of comments that reveal the depth of parents concerns about the message the decision has sent to students. Some note that they are also single parents and they have also raised further concerns about the prejudice of this decision by the board.
In its statement the school has said, “The Board and School recognizes that as in all partnerships there will be times when there are disagreements. The Board and School nevertheless remain committed to acting in good faith, and valuing difference. The Board provides its assurance that it will continue to uphold the School’s long standing history of providing high quality educational standards dedicated to the academic achievement and personal growth of our students in line with our Mission Statement and in accordance with its governance obligations.”
The full statement from the school is posted below but when CNS made further enquiries to the school director about the motivation for not renewing Platt’s contract, we were told, “It is highly unusual for such matters to be discussed with the press and the School or Board of Governors will not comment further on a matter which is confidential.”
Nevertheless, parents describe Platt as a “fantastic teacher” who has enriched their children’s lives and are hopeful that they can collect enough signatures to persuade the board to re-think its decision.
See petition page here and full statement from Cayman Prep below.
Category: Local News
I knew there was a reason I didn't want to send my son to that school…my parent friends scoffed at me as "everyone was going there", but who has the last laugh now?
I really hope that all of these commenters are expats. If not, please note Caymanians that you have allowed the expats to influence you and now we have the moral decline of Cayman. These comments make me so sad. Everyone wants to break the rules. There are very few churches standing up for their beliefs anymore. They are all bending to the secular world.
Christian principles do not believe in divorce either so should i be in fear of my job at a Christian school because I am getting a divorce?
You are obviously trolling, but shouldn't you be asking that question to the Board of the Christian School in question?
Divorce is more of a grey area. In general divorce is not the Christian ideal but there are biblical exceptions where it is permitted, e.g. marital unfaithfulness of your spouse. Some churches, like the RCC, have a much stricter approach than others.
I was just wondering. If she gets married now, can she have her job back or will the fact that the child was conceived out of wedlock be the detemining factor? I am wondering if she had gotten married before anyone realized that she was pregnant, would this be a story on CNS? Would we be discussing this? Was her contract not renewed because she is pregnant or was that a conclusion drawn? CNS's headline "Popular teacher loses job over pregnancy" suggests that it is known fact but I just don't know enough about this situation to even begin to comment on this. From reading all the posts I can feel the emotions running hot. It is "us" and "them" again but this time it is not Caymanians vs Expatriates, it is now Christians vs Non-Christians so I guess the silver lining in this is that Caymanians and Expatriates seem to be at least united in something.
Cayman Prep and High School board:
"This approach is in alignment with our Mission Statement that states the aim of our School is to: 'provide a stimulating learning environment, firmly rooted in Christian principles, in which our students become critical creative thinkers, responsible citizens and lifelong learners in an ever changing world'.
Wow … if this is the mission statement for the school THAT HAS BEEN RATED AS THE SCHOOL WITH CHILDREN OF HIGHEST MARKS ON THE ISLAND then I can see myself sending my kids to the school. We need more institutions like Cayman Prep and High School that will uphold Christian morals and will not yield to societal demands.
🙂
If they were "critical creative thinkers" they would know this was BS.
As a past student of CPHS it deeply saddens me to see the schools reputation, teaching body and students affected by this decision made by a Board that is clearly out of touch.
I would call for an anonymous survey to take place for the teachers and parents to vote on whether or not Ms. B should be able to stay.
Ultimately, the school is a business and the parents and those who work there should have a say.
This is why schools should only hire married persons or gays.
Do not forget married Gays! Then they can adopt and send their kids to the school at a discount.
Marry me, Bryony! Then they will take you back on. And I can stay on Island indefinitely. A clear win-win situation 😉
Unfortunately the United Chruch of Jamaica and the Cayman Islands is not the same as the United Church in Canada.
"Fortunately", you mean.
So you are saying it is better/Christian-like to fire her and put the livelihood of her and her unborn child at risk, than to let her keep the job and help provide for her and her child-to-be?
These are the Christian principles that the School believes in?
What year or centuary are you living in?
And what is your response to JOJO 17.39's post. ? According to you, everyone should be dismissed, unless you argue Christian forgiveness. And the natural extension of that is…
Miss Bryony is guilty of one thing and that is naivety; naivety as it relates to what CPHS's attitude would be to an unwed mother remaining a teacher. CPHS has "previous" on matters such as this and to those of you asking about sexual discrimination, the last primary site teacher to lose their job over "fornication" was indeed male, so that is a mute point. The rights and wrongs of sex outside of marriage are a personal choice based on your religion, upbringing and what you see as your path in this world.
The Board is in a no-win situation on this as there would be a split vote on this amongst parents and the public as I am sure there was in the Board's vote on the matter if indeed there was a vote; matters of hiring and firing would seldom make it to the Board for a decision, it would be a case of the management of the school informing the Board or asking for ratification of the decision.
Let me ask people whether they would be happy for all of the teachers at the high school to be un-wed mothers or fathers? Would you be happy for your own daughter to be an un-wed mother? Your answers to that are a matter of personal choice and the fact is that this is a school founded on Christian principles and rightly or wrongly, as with most religions, having children out of wedlock is frowned upon. We can disagree with that, but the warning is on the label.
My oldest child started in Kindergarten at Prep and went all the way through to Year 13. I am proud to say that she is not in favour of this decision…proud because through her edcuation there she is able to form her own opinion based on her own values, which are a mixture of what she has learned through CPHS and her life outside of school.
For Christians, pray for Ms Bryony, pray for the Board and pray for the school. For the rest of us (including me), Caymanians or ex-pats, we made a choice to send our children to CPHS, there are other options and the mission statement is there in big letters at both school sites, so no one should really be surprised at the decision that has been taken if indeed that is the only reason the decision was taken.
I beleive that the male your are referring to was in a different situation concerning an affair with another married teacher which compromised both their positions at the school. His and her "crime" was more based in deciet and deception rather than the actual act of "fornication".
Fornication is defined as "consensual sexual intercourse between two persons not married to each other". I think that pretty much hits that situation on the head. I think Deceit and Deception are probably subsets of that anyway…I'm not really clued up on all the current naughty terms, I don't have the energy for either anymore 🙂
22;21
You are speaking theGod's truth. Why are caymanians now so quiet about their christian upbringing. Im shooked that Caymanians are not defending their values and good standards . I cant point to one family back in the 50s 60 and 70s who werent raised on christian principal and morality.
Yes you are right in saying most these folks come from a country where they have no morals or standards.
It seems to me that the devil have taken over these Islands already.
Beloved. Didn't Jesus already deal with this? Is anyone on the board or any Christian for that matter, ready to throw the first stone?
1John 1:18 If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.
If Jesus is the way, the truth and the light, and He says that the truth is not in us, then you do not have Him. He would not stone this woman, the way we have done. Repent and gain a true understanding of God's grace, love and mercy. Let us put aside judgmentalism and hypocrisy, because this is pride and sin, and restore one another in LOVE.
The gospel is quite simple… that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. He did not comefor the "righteous", He came for us sinners.
I pray for her, the board and us all.
True, I agree with the gospel of Christ … but what if she signed a contract that stipulated morality therein. Remember you are talking about a Christian school that has to maintain its Chrisitan principles. Should government force a religious institute to not follow its own faith?????? Think of that for a moment. The school has its standards just like any other school or institution. We may defend her if this was a secular or government institution, but who are we on the outside to tell a religious organization how they should run their religion????? Peace
But what I cited above is the Christian faith (1John 1:8 – from the bible). The one the school desires (I assume) to uphold. I cited a teaching from whom they want to follow, Jesus himself.
If the argument the school wants to stand on is that she signed a contract, then they are following a legal document and not Christ. Sounds familiar… being legalistic and following the letter of the law rather than submitting to God's grace, mercy and love to transform us.
I just think they're all living a lie. How can you sign a contract to be perfect when none of us are? Did the board also sign a contract to be perfect?
I don't think she should be fired but what's this first stone biz? Shall we throw open the doors of northward?
So love for you means that anything goes and there are never any consequences for your actions? You are very misguided. Suppose a pastor has an affair with a member of his congregation, would dismissing him from his post constitute throwing stones? What about as a parent – should your child never be punished for wrongdoing because you have done some wrong things at some point too? There is a place for wholesome discipline.
Hello friend,
Thank you so much for sharing the very essence of the gospel “LOVE” in this difficult and sensitive situation. For as one person has mentioned already, it has turned up the volume on the obvious tension that exists between Caymanians and Expatriates: and Christians and Non-Believers. For the Christians especially, it is pertinent to remember to communicate and engage in love.
Anonymous friend, while I do agree with your encouragement to love, I do believe your reference to casting stones in this circumstance is a miss-application, as no one is condemning anyone to death. While love is the chief spiritual gift (1 Cor. 13), it is not anti-love to exercise disciplining those who fall into sin (1 Cor. 5, Gal. 6, Matt. 18). On the contrary it is anti-love not to hold brothers and sisters accountable. Of course these examples are only applicable to those belonging to the household of faith, for as God says through the Apostle Paul “For what have I to do with judging outsiders? Is it not those inside the church whom you are to judge? God judges those outside”; and I have no knowledge of this teacher’s spiritual standing.
That notwithstanding the teacher in question did sign a contract, I’m presuming, fully understanding the moral requirements extending from the mission statement, with its foundation in Judeo-Christianity and the Bible. If she is a Christian I hope her church rallies around her in love, exercising Gal.6. And I'll be praying for her whatever her spiritual standing.
While this situation is mucky, and emotionally riddled, blurred and super-sensitive with an unborn child in the mix no less; we must be careful not to be prisoners of the moment. We must see beyond emotions (Christians) and ask the question of what message we are sending to the community and more directly to the students of that school if we move that moral fence, if we erase that proverbial line in the sand? This is a difficult situation, and I pray for all parties involved.
For argument sake: I’m husband to an expatriate, who is a teacher; we have two kids; and they attend a Christian school.
Grace and Peace
Thanks for your reply. Just to clarify, my use of the words and scripture of "stoning" is a metaphore to the condemnation, judgementalism and hypocrisy that is so prevalent in this debate. I understand your point, but here's where I disagree (to a degree)… how did Jesus punish her? We are so quick to condemn each other, where He… Jesus himself, did not condemn her.
Wasn't it enough to restore her and tell her go and sin no more… His love, lack of condemnation (unlike the religious hypocrits of the day) won her.
For the sake of my metaphore, the school board's punishment is firing, wheras Moses's in verse 5 was stoning. Let's put it all in context…
8 Jesus went unto the mount of Olives.
2 And early in the morninghe came again into the temple, and all the people came unto him; and he sat down, and taught them.
3 And the scribes and Pharisees brought unto him a woman taken in adultery; and when they had set her in the midst,
4 They say unto him, Master, this woman was taken in adultery, in the very act.
5 Now Moses in the law commanded us, that such should be stoned: but what sayest thou?
6 This they said, tempting him, that they might have to accuse him. But Jesus stooped down, and with his finger wrote on the ground, as though he heard them not.
7 So when they continued asking him, he lifted up himself, and said unto them, He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her.
9 And they which heard it, being convicted by their own conscience, went out one by one, beginning at the eldest, even unto the last: and Jesus was left alone, and the woman standing in the midst.
10 When Jesus had lifted up himself, and saw none but the woman, he said unto her, Woman, where are those thine accusers? hath no man condemned thee?
11 She said, No man, Lord. And Jesus said unto her, Neither do I condemn thee: go, and sin no more.
I personally have nothing against single parenthood, however, the same thinking that many seem to apply here (ie that the teacher can't lose her job over this) must then be applied to any girl that may get pregnant while attending Prep school.
If the teacher has a right to remain in her position, a pregnant girl certainly also has the right to continue her education………
Either rights are applied equally or not – we can't randomly chose where we want it applied just based on popularity………..
Under the human rights act 2012, a pregnant student cannot be discriminated against, meaning she cannot be excluded from school.
Pregnant students should be allowed to conti ue as long as possible, have their babies, and return to school.
What are we worried about? Our youth are much more thoughtful as to what they want for their lives than what we appear to be crediting them with.
Surely this is not about religious beliefs or human rights but a matter of contract law. Sign something saying you agree to something and then violate that agreement you have a problem, unless you can demonstrate that the terms of the contract are unlawful. In this case, I doubt if that get-out is demonstratable.
To "Surely this is not about beliefs or human rights but about contract law" : the board can stand on legalities, I am sure, and Ms Briony likely signed her contract with little thought that it might come back to bite her.
the question we are debating is whether this type of contract should even exist.
Yes, the board holds the handle of the knife in is case, but do they have a moral right to exact their poind of flesh in this cruel way, considering how archaic their position is? Is it not time to rethink whether this whole position should remain extant in this more modern environment? Should they continue to act as if they are still in the '50s?
There is a reason that there is an continuing evolution n human rights provisions — we are evolving in our perspectives, and frankly we are becoming more authentic and more ethical and more Christian in the weightier aspects of the law — that we love one another, as we attempt to mirror how He has loved us.
"Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me"
Everyone seems to be ignoring or distorting the reason why the Board has terminated this women's contract. This is a Christian school so one would presume they follow Christian principles. What example would the Board be setting if they allowed something that clearly goes against their Christian principles to be suddenly acceptable because a few parents/students, who may not be Christians but chose to attend a Christian school, start a petition? One learned poster was kind enough to state an extract of the contract:
"Part 2: Standards for Professional and Personal Conduct
The conduct of the teacher shall be in accordance with the Christian principles and other stipulations of his / her contract of employment…"
Are all the petitions aware of what the Christian principles are? The Bible which is what Christians follows clearly states against fornication (sex outside of marriage). So unless the petition is that this woman was impregnated by artificial insemination, her conduct is not in accordance with the Christian principles. I hope that the school Board will stand firm and not allow a petition to let them stray from their Christian principles. There are many students in that school whose parents are atheist or simply don't follow any particular religion but because they are expatriates they have to enroll them in a private school. If you are going to send your child to a Christian school then expect the Christian principles to be present and enforced. Caymanians are too passive and over the years have allowed too many people to come here and try to tell them how to live and what they should be doing as though we were not living here with a working system before they showed up. Caymanians STOP and THINK! Stop allowing people to convince you to abandon your upbringing, your morals and your values simply because where they come from there are none. For those Caymanian parents who have signed the petition, I leave you to you own conscience. You don't like the rules of a Christian school then don't send your child there.
To "everyone seems to be ignoring" : u make a very net resting comment: "unless the petition is that this woman is being impregnated by artificial insemination her conduct is not in accordance with Christian principles."
So science can at least banish the darkness after all. In which case, how does the board know that this is not the case?
The only people straying from Christian principles are the Board. They have made a conscious decision to terminate the employment of a woman simply because she is pregnant. There may indeed be some morality clauses written into her contract, and, by becoming pregnant she may have contravened them, but frankly that is not the point. These rules are archaic, immoral and a breach of basic human rights.
If you are happy living a world where literal interpretations of the bible are used to condone discrimination like this, then go ahead and rejoice by putting your head back in the sand.
To "The only people straying from" : well said. I ccouldn't agree more.
How many "christian" schools receive government assistance?
The Govt. assistance is given to each private primary school so that the Govt. system is not overwhelmed by students. As I recall, the assistance is related to the numbers of Caymanian students attending siad school. The Govt. system costs more per student per year, so it is more economical to give some assistance which helps to keep the fees within the reach of middle income parents. Without it all those parents would likely send their children to the public school system thereby costing everyone more (taxes).
According to the new budget there are 11 private schools that will receive money from the Government to educate Caymanian students. One of the 11 schools listed is Cayman Prep. Total amount allocated for the 11 schools in the 2014 / 2015 fiscal year is $1.53 million Caymanian dollars. People who harp on that Cayman Prep is a church school totally separate from Government can draw their own conclusions.
If this is true, then unless the Cayman Governemnt can claim that all thier revenues are from "christians", they have no right to take secular tax paying money to fund thier little cult culture.
Just for clarification purpose, if one of the girls who atttends A levels at Prep School gets pregnant, they will not get expelled? Also the dress code of not wearing hoop earrings or make-up is outdated and infringes on a personal right to express personal taste so that should be done away with also? If one of the teachers decides to have an affair with your husband or wife you will not ask the school to fire them cause it doesn't have an impact on their ability of the teacher and it is not illegal? We also wouldn't have any issue if the college professor is out and about with his or her legal age students boozing and all?
That said I don't know the teacher or her circumstances so am not passing judgement but I know that a lot of people often eagerly and blindly jump on a popular topic and get on the bandwagon often failing to see the bigger picture which in this case is a slippery slope and I am curious to see where the line will be drawn…….
Actually earlier this scool year one of Prep's teachers was dismissed during the term for suposedly having an affair with one of the parents at the school. Interestingly this teacher was a single parent.
It's a grand a month to send your kid to Prep. Someone is making a mint somewhere.
Welcome to reality – it is called running a business. Where I work (not a school) if some internal stuff is going on, we are all asked not to discuss this matter outside work or even with another dept within the same company. It is a general expectation that business matters are treated confidential and aren't discussed outside your work place. Furthermore, management pretty much can do whatever they want without detailed explanation. If you believe that your employer actually cares about you, then it is you who hasn't moved into the 21st century yet……..
Not saying this is right, but it is the world we live in nowadays and we all helped to create this type of environment.
Christians (myself being one) need to stop judging people for sinning DIFFERENTLY than themselves.
We are all sinners. You, Me, Tom Cruise, President Obama, The Queen…all of us. One sin is not worst than the next.
I bet if they really dug deep, EVERY employee in that school would have a long list of sins they have committed. Not all of them would result in a growing belly to show the sin though. That's the only difference.
Judge nobody. Just show love to everybody.
You say you are a Christian!
Are you of Christian origin, do you really practice christianity, read your bible and attend church??
We are all siners, but we have to at least try to keep God's commandments, and ask for forgiveness of our sins on a daily basis.
Most people brag of their origin of religion, some are born within the society and family of these religions, but do not practice them…Christians, Islam, Judaism, Buddnism, Hinduism.
Who are you to question the faith of another? Has God given you such a lofty task?
And as long as I ask for forgiveness everyday (and read my Bible), it's all good?
If it was only so easy.
Questions:
Did the school say that the teacher's contract was not renewed because she became pregnant withou being married?
Did the teacher alledge this? If so, where is the evidence (letter, conversation with whom?)?
Who is replacing her?
The initial form that Ms.Platt had to submit to apply to become a teacher at CPHS has a clause in Part 2 of the section entitled Code Of Ethics For Teachers Of Cayman Prep And High School which reads as follows:
"Part 2: Standards for Professional and Personal Conduct
The conduct of the teacher shall be in accordance with the Christian principles and other stipulations of his / her contract of employment…"
(You can download the full form, entitled Cayman Prep and HIgh School Teacher Application Form 2014-2015, from their page at http://www.cayprep.edu.ky/Page/Job-Opportunities )
I don't know the Bible back to front, but I am aware that pregnancy out of wedlock is never defined as one of the 'Christian principles' to which the application form refers. So the question is not 'Did she break the terms of her contract?', because she has. The question is 'Were the terms of her contract discriminatory to begin with?', to which I would vote YES.
You were entirely correct up until the last paragraph which is a complete non-sequitur. Obviously from what you have quoted the terms of the contract were not discriminatory. Both males and females are required to have conduct that is in accordance with Christian principles. Anyone who has ever picked up a bible knows that fornication is not in accordance with Christian principles. Pregnancy out of wedlock is clear evidence of fornication.
Yes but I can almost guarantee that the most of the unmarried teachers are fornicating on a regular basis. It is what people do.
It is not what people observing Christian principles do. That is the point.
You anonymously "almost guaranteeing" it and there being clear, undeniable evidence are two different things. Teachers, both male and female, have in the past been dismissed from the school for having affairs.
10 Big Rules from the Old Book
You shall have no other gods before Me (well not me but Him)
You shall not make idols
You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain
Remember the Sabbath day to keep it holy
Honour your father and mother
You shall not murder
You shall not commit adultery
You shall not steal
You shall not bear false witness
You shall not covet
Jesus' 2 Big Rules from the New Book
You shall love the Lord your God with your whole heart, soul, mind & strength
You shall love your neighbour as yourself
Who is breaking rules here?
the Old and New books are not antithetical. The New shows the intent of the Old. The New is the original intent of God which was given a little more specificity in the Old. The New is the Spirit while the Old helps us to understand in real terms what is intended. If pravtised, the Old will help us ahieve the New. These "rules" help to establish boundaries and govern relationships. If they are followed, then we will achieve the Love of God and Love of our Sister/Brother. Just saying…
Clearly the teacher. What is your point?
if she knowingly chose to work in a place that holds this policy – its on her.
Really??? How many "so called" real christians work at the Prep School??
Then she shouldn't have signed it! My child is at Prep and I don't like the bad example. There are enough things around setting bad examples for our girls. Why do we need the teachers doing it too! If I wanted that then I wouldn't be paying exorbitant fees to keep my child there!
Doesn't get a whole lot more ambiguous than that now does it?
Presumably the "Christian principle" ms Platt has failed to comply with is that she has had premarital sex.
the board should interrogate every person, man and woman, especially the men, that it hires on a continuing basis as to whether they are having sex.
Get real, board, what century do u live in?
Maybe Ms Platt should have done what one u wed pregnant teacher did — got on her computer and made up a marriage certificate.
However, I bet Ms Platt has too much integrity for that.
A discrimination which a parochial school has the right to make and whic any teacher has the right to avoid. Freedom of speech at work people.
Good point. But what would be really Interesting to know is what does the Head of the United Church of the Cayman Islands say about a woman giving birth out of wedlock?
Has the teacher / woman sinned in the eyes of The United Church? Perhaps someone who is a member of the Church could put that question to the Head of the United Church in Cayman.
I suspect that some of the members of the Cayman Prep Board Of Directors / Director may be promoting their own personal Christian agendas and not necessarily the United Churchs.
Having talked to people in England and Canada, who are United Church members, the teacher would not be perceived as having sinned in the eyes of the United Church in those countries to the point where punishment such as termination of employment would be rendered.
For clarification, the United Churches in Enfland Canada and Cayman are distinct denominaions. They might share fraternal relayions, but they do not share ecclesiastical authority.
Thanks for the clarification. Can someone tell me which ecclesiastical authority outside of Cayman and Jamaica the United Church on island answers to?
None. They have affiliations with other churches but there is no church which has authority over them.
Good grief! Not the same Churches at all! The United Church of Canada is far more inclusive, accepting parishoners from all religions and even has gay ministers and celebrates same-sex marriages!
In other words the United Church of Canada has completely lost its foundations and is disparate need of biblical moral compass.
This is what happens when the church conforms to the world, something Christ and the apostle Paul warned us against.
It sounds like you have never picked up a bible if you think this is about personal agendas of board members.
Gender discrimination.If it was a male teacher that impregnated a female. I wonder if it would be the same consequences?
That's different. Male teacher is not a vessel
For a baby? I hope not!
This situation has nothing to do with Gender discrimination. Her work contract stated what the school expected of her. To abide by their rules. This is the problem in the world today people want to flagrantly disregard laws and policies.
There are consequencies for breaking the rule.
I concur
Open letter to Minister Rivers:
You are the Minister responsible for education and gender affairs. You have recommended the adoption of the UN Convenion for the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women. Article 11 2(a) states:
2. In order to prevent discrimination against women on the grounds of marriage or maternity and to ensure their effective right to work, States Parties shall take appropriate measures:
I cannot find any exceptions in CEDAW for religious belief, or suggestion that people can be compelled to contract out of this inalienable right. The school is not taking similar action against male employees, so quite apart from the obvious breach of the principles of CEDAW, this is blatant discrimination. So what are you going to do about it?
The Cayman Islands is treated as a colony of the United Kingdom by the United Nations, therefore, as the United Kingdom signed and ratified the Treaty On the Elimination of Discrimminationan Against Women a long time ago the Cayman Islands are already incorporated into the treaty.
Regrettably you're wrong. The UK is a signatory but hasn't extended it to Cayman yet.
If that is the case why has it not been extended to this colony? The treaty was signed and ratified by the United Kingdom over 30 years ago.
NOt so, CEDAW has not yet been extended to the. Cayman Islands
The Cayman Islands IS a Colony of the United Kingdom.
Yes we are a colony of the UK.
At least principale, morals and good standards are practiced within their parliament. I've seen many had to step down when breaking the rules.
12;13
You are out of your league.
This has nothing to do with United nations or United Kingdom. She Breached her works contract.
Governor Helen Kilpatrick
In view of the fact that many members of the Cayman Prep B of G including the Director have very close personal and political ties to the current government and as a result, governing politicians may be very reluctant to get involved, perhaps consideration should be given to petitioning Governor Helen Kilpatrick to ask for her investigation into this matter bearing in mind that the United Narions Convention For the Elimination of Discrimmination Against Woman, which the United Kingdom is a signatory to, would appear to be violated in relation to this female teacher.
Just an idea.
What on earth does this issue have to do with discrimination against women? This is about sexual misconduct. Male teachers have been dismissed on the same basis.
How do you know that to e the case.
How do I know that to be the case? Well, Tara Rivers made sure she had a press release covering her recommendation to the Governor that Cayman adopt CEDAW. As for the Article in question, you can download the Convetion from the UN Women website. Its there in black and white.
Then she can go teach elsewhere! I will pull my kid out of Prep if this is allowed!
When signing a contract, be careful to read it, then abide by it, full stop. The real question is whether or not there is consistency in its application. This is by far the largest HR issue country/world wide. When all employees are treated equally, bad, good or otherwise, fair treatment is perceived, thus, acceptance more natural.
Contracts nothing in the cayman islands when you work for government. They bring teachers out on contracts and fail to honor the contracts. An example of this is
1). Not telling people that their salary with not go up
2) withdrawing any increment without telling candidates so that they arrive on island and then only discover this fact
3). You are given a baggage allowance coming out but now i have been told on returning to my original country that allowamce is halved effectively
3). People three years ago coming out on contracts which stated they are entitled to flights to their home country after two years of service and that each two yeAr contract is separate. The fact is you only get a flight home when you leave cayman for good.
is it any wonder that teachers feel disenfranchised and the department of education are finding it difficult to attract good calibre people.
The issue is they are not capable of honouring their own contracts let alone scrutinize those of other organizations.
A sad state of affairs all around…
HR Isn't working for you. HR is working for the company
I do not know the details of this teacher’s personal situation nor does it matter to me. All I see is a mature, educated woman who is pregnant and who has chosen to be a mother. A weaker woman may have run to an abortion clinic and chosen to terminate the life of her unborn child just to keep her job and avoid the ridicule. Would the school and church have preferred that?
Oh how foolish of me, I forgot, she was supposed to get married. How does that erase the sin? In this case, conception would have occurred before the marriage. The last time I checked, we could not turn back the hands of time.
This teacher faces no end of ridicule at a time in her life when she should be allowed to enjoy the growing bond between a mother and her unborn child. To make matters worse, she and her child will be negatively impacted by the unnecessary stress and hardship caused by the actions and attitudes in the school and wider Christian population.
The “Christian” attitude being displayed here is why so many people do not see the church as having a place in society today.
If the school chose not to renew the contracts of every member of their staff who has committed some sin or another, I wonder how many staff (or board members) they would have.
“He that is without sin among you, let him cast a stone at her.” Can someone tell me if this Bible verse was intended for academic purposes on Sunday only or was this intended for everyday practice?
Beautifully put.
Dear Tara,
Since you spout off so much about how keen you are to end gender discrimination are you going to step in here and offer help to this woman, or are you just talk a lot and do nothing?
Just wonderin'
Please dont expect a government response re contracts in the private sector. It would need to get its own house in order before ever venturing into an arena for which it has a woeful track record.
Christians in being bigoted, intolerant and vindictive shock.
the greatest evils in this world are committed by those who believe they are doing what their imaginary friend wants.
Oh the words of our Lord are so true! blame it on the Christians.
"If the World hate you, you know that it hated me Me before it hated you.
If you were of the World, the World would love its own.
Yet because you are not of the the world , but i chose you out of the world, therefor the world hates you.
"Remember what I said to you…If they persecute me, they will also persecute you"
Would a man be Fired for being the Father ?
Nothing Christian about this my friend – there is no tolerance, no forgiveness, no compassion. Just as the Devil can quote scripture, there are no shortage of examples of narrow minded people using Christianity as an excuse to exercise their personal prejudices and intolerance – doesnt mean the religion itself is the issue.
You are a good example of the devil quoting, or at least alluding to, scripture. Unfortunately, your mindset is pervasive in today's world – that tolerance, love and forgiveness means that you must never be required to bear any consequences for your actions. God forgives sins where we are contrite and come to him in repentance (and there is no evidence even of that here) but often there are temporal consequences for those sins notwithstanding the fact that you are forgiven. Why would there be any need for prisons if "tolerance, love and forgiveness" made it all good? Why would we ever need to discipline our children if "tolerance, love and forgiveness" made it all okay? Doesthe fact that an abused wife separates from her husband mean that she lacks "tolerance, love and forgiveness"? Are you really advocating that no organisation should have any standards, or that they should not actually apply them, or do you simply think those standards should be the ones you personally prefer?
It is outrageous to label a Christian institution upholding what is clearly a biblical principle as the "personal prejudices and intolerance" of certain individuals.
I hope that you will reflect seriously on these questions and come to understand the folly of your position.
I see that political hopeful Theresa Pitcairn is on the board. Didn't she have a legal battle with a local law firm over what she felt was gender discrimination? I would really like to hear her take on this. Another woman is battling a different form of gender discrimination. Doesn't she feel any obligation to support her? Perhaps she was a minority voice on the board in disagreement with this decision, in which case I would like to see her resign in protest.
Come Theresa, let's see what you're really made of!
Nothing to do with gender discrimination. Leave Theresa out of this.
Leave Theresa out of it? Hell no. Is she or is she not still a member of the BOG?
Agreed. Once the BOD decided that Miss Bryonys personal life was something they could pass judgement on they opened themselves up to scrutiny.
LOL. You make it sound as if the Board came up the rule against fornication. It is a Christian institution applying the Christian principles its mission statement told you they would apply, and suddenly people are upset because it actually meant what it said.
Any teacher currently working at Cayman Prep and High School, please post your contract here for us to see but please black out your name, signature, dates and/or any info that can be traced back to you.
I bet they won't stop accepting the children that come from single parent's homes. or not married parents!!!!! It is all about the MONEY!!! This can be said is a most un-Christian practice!!!!!!!!
From way back when I as going to John Gray in the mid 70's they always tried to classified the Prep School students as being better citizens!!!!
A Caymanian.
Send your kids to CIS. A much nicer school with NO religious agenda.
I'll take a little bigotry over some fancy buildings and a half rate overpriced education any day.
Good to see that you have your childs best interests at heart – what's a little bigotry between friends, eh. Thats the way to bring up a child, right enough.
Unlike many, I leave my young children out of such adult matters that they are not mature enough to form an educated opinion on. I make no apologies to anyone for putting my childs education before the juvenile behaviour of supposedly mature adults. So, like I said, ill take the bigotry over holier than thou because we have more money attitude anyday.
Except it isn't bigotry.
Sorry but the grades there aren't great!
More than half of us at CPHS, and also likely at several other private schools are Caymanian. If I want to live paycheck to paycheck so that I can invest heavily in my kids' education – that's my business. CPHSs' results and ESAU (check Ministry of Education's website) school standard reports come out at outstanding/good all the time.
While I emphatically do not agree with this particular stance by the CPHS Board, and signed the petition, in the approximately 10 years my kids have attended there, combined, they, and we their parents, have experienced only excellence in teaching and pastoral care.
Besides, the relationship between the two schools goes hand in hand and way, way back. The good deceased Reverend John Gray, for whom one of our main public high schools is named, helped to found CPHS. In those old days, CPHS was the only high school opportunity – otherwise I believe you went to Jamaica elsewhere abroad.
Anyway as someone who went to both private and public schools here (including John Gray back in the days when another version of it was called CI High School) I can tell you I do not teach my children to think of themselves as the "better citizens" to whom you refer just because they attend a private school now. That kind of prejudice goes both ways and simply doesn't help anybody.
It doesn't help to fan the flames when we all live and work together…
While I agree with what you say the Board Of Governors and Debra McLaughlin must move ahead with the times and come fully into the 21st century in terms of understanding society's norms. The fact that over 300 parents have signed a petition in just over 24 hours says a lot about where parents stand on the termination issue. I am afraid that too many of the Governors and Mrs. McLaughlin have spent too much timein Cayman and Jamaica and the rest of the developed world has passed them by. In a world of globalization Cayman Prep students need to be with it if they are to compete in the global world, and Debra McLaughlin and the Board of Governors need to listen to the parents who pay their salaries and per diems. Morality clauses in employment contracts are archaic and mainly apply to rock stars, Hollywood actors and actresses and athletes who sign large multi million dollar endorsement contracts. Not teachers in modern forward thinking and enlightened schools.
You may say we are fanning flames but what we are really trying to do is to bring a kicking and fighting Cayman Islands into the 21st Century along with respect for the rights of women and hopefully produce better citizens for all of Cayman in the end.
Clarification – Garfield I agree with you – the flames absolutely do need to be fanned in this issue. I was referring to the previous poster on CPHS "better citizens".
To Debra Mclaughlin and the board of Governors. Keep up the standard of morality and integrity in these Islands.
Do not follow the dark pits of the global world. Look at the global world today and see how much evil deeds are being practice daily.
Children taking guns to school going on a killing spree. Evil men killing inocent children standing at bus stops. Evil men turning on their comorades and mowing them down with automatic rifles. Mothers killing off their young toddlers…drowning them, cuttimng off their heads.
These Islands were founded on Christian principals, dont jepordise our lives by going down the devil's path. Most our new comers are bringing that un-christian ways with them. I look at the churches and i see who attends.
So in the 21st century Christian institutions should be compelled to abandon Christian principles because you think they are unenlightened?
Your perspective is what the bible calls "the world" in contrast to Christianity. It tells us "don't copy the behavior and customs of this world" (Rom. 12:2).
John 15:18-20 “If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first. If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you. Remember what I told you: ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted me, they will persecute you also".
.
This is 2014 time to realise that some battles are lost. I too like the idea of Marriage however marriage cause Divorce………
Marriage cause divorce because man has taken more to the spirit of the devil..so much evil deeds.
Man will not follow the good christian life because his evil deeds will be exposed. He finds it easy crucifying the Christians, hopeing he will be excluded when the rapture comes.
This is very sad if you’re going to take away someone’s livelihood because they’re doing what they were intended to do. Women were giving birth long before simple man decided that you needed to spend money and purchase a ring before you could reproduce. Then again it’s a Christian school; you can’t expect any sympathy most of the crimes committed on this planet are done in the name of religion. You people make me sick!!
I knocked up three girls while I was a student at Prep and they let me stay.
You can do the same as a male teacher as well.
This is a terrible decision by Prep. It could be a chance to demonstrate love & forgiveness along the lines of "Hate the sin, love the sinner" if you come at it from a Christian viewpoint.
In my own mind it sends a terrible message and in the future any single teachers who become pregnant and really need to keep their job may opt for an abortion rather than stand to lose their job.
The real issue is premarital sex as to the best of my knowledge the pregnancy is just a symptom of that. Will all unwed staff members who are suspected of engaging in sexual relations now be dismissed?
What if Ms. Patt were to deny having sex and claim that an Angel of the Lord appeared to her and said "unto you a child will be given… Oh and hire a good lawyer as well!"
The only example being set is a decent hard working individual having a child in a committed stable relationship, having a piece of paper to say you are married does nothing to change any of that.
People can be good and not go to church, just as those that attend church can be bad. We aren't the ones who get to decide who did right at the end of the day and those that have used their faith to justify this decsion have missed the whole point of religion by a large margin [insert random bible saying to justify whatever point you want to make].
Unfortunately you are fighting a decision that isn't being made in a rational way and justification for that decision will be held in the belief that they are right and morally justified despite the evidence to the contrary.
If my kids were about to start Prep I would think very hard about bringing them into this environment, simply for the fact that no-one is prepared to listen and act to legitimate concerns.
The Church has been making some very questionable demands on this school recently and they have probably held off doing more but for the fact that they are receiving so much money from the school. I get the feeling they can't help themselves from meddling in what has up until recently been a well run school, balanced by the needs of education and the wants of teh Church.
To those that support this decision ask what message has been sent to all the kids from a single parent, that their parents are morally bankrupt, lesser parents in the eyes of the Church, that they themselves are tainted?
There has to be more to this story as I cannot believe that adults, who are responsible for directing our children's education, would do something so ignorant and discriminatory!
You are a nice person, but I am afraid not well equipped to deal with religious zealots.
Maybe Prep is just starting to operate by the laws of the land – sorry a nice lady became the casualty of following the law – but Caymanian first people.
I am sure the sperm donor will lose his job too. It only seems fair…
I went to Prep and I'm very sad to see this happening. Not that I'm surprised. People here can be so full of. Proclaim the 'majesty' and 'beauty' of God's 'everlasting love', yet scorn those for their own PRIVATE choices. Getting married is like getting a new wardrobe. When it no longer fits, just toss it out. 'God fearing' persons concerned about the sexual morality of others see no fault in climbing into bed with the family and friends of their partners. The hypocrisy drives me mental. If you want to fall on the crutch of religion, then be willing to accept it in it's entirety, not cherry pick what works and doesn't work for you.
This woman is clearly loved and respected for the work she has done. In a time when we have all noted the academic struggles of our children and the lack of teachers with the dedication and influence she does, this is just silly. I wish you the very best, Ms Byrony. You will make a great mother.
Mary had Jesus out of wedlock.
She also had a little lamb.
As a virgin, yes.
I think the school board has a right not to renew anyones contract for what ever reason they see fit. Let's be clear, she wasn't fired, her contract is not being renewed. That's two totally different things. If our own employer decided they weren't going to renew our contract, do you think we can do anything about it? Take them to the labour board? Employers are not obligated to renew contracts.
Being a christian school, fornication goes against the teachings of christianity. What message are you sending to students? If the teacher can do, then why can't I. I don't think there is any discrimination here unless a male teacher was found to be in a similar position, but was still allowed to teach.
Seriously….you have got to be joking!
When a male teacher gets a woman pregnant bet his contract gets renewed stilll, because no one cares that he has a child out of wedlock because he is a man.
Same crap when a girl get pregnant in school, the boy normally a fellow student does not get kicked out of school only the girl(all though in CIG schools I believe this has changed now). Talk about double standards, we are so backward!
XXXXX
Sooner or later this type of practice will cause not just a few signing a petition, it will cause an uproar. People are no longer going sit and allow persons professing christianity to continue in this vein.
As for the comments prior regarding Theresa Pitcairn, she is one of few on the board. Why is her name being called out only,or called at all? Collectively the board has a responsibility to make a sensible and fair decision. Calling her out alone lands persons doing so, in same category as the spineless idiots who made the decision to get rid of what seem to be a decent teacher.
It takes courage to go against the grain, and allowing this teacher to stay on would obviously mean that the majority of the board went against the grain. Heavens forbit! Not many has the gumption to stand up for what is right because they are cowards!
This is truly sad. I urge this teacher to remember her value does not decrease based on someones inability to see her worth. The losers here is the school and unfotunately the students lose a decent caring teacher, hard to come by these days it seems.
As for all that crap about fornication and bad example..seriously?! With all the other crap children face daily in the world, at schools, outside and in their households. Find another excuse, or better yet go pray for your sinful prejudice souls. Bunch of hyprocrites… half of you having extramartial affairs and hiding behind marriage and so call christianity!
I remind this teacher of the saying "a sucessful person is one who lay a firm foundation with bricks others have thrown at them". Wishing her all the best where ever she ends up. Go lay your foundation and continue to do good as a teacher inspite of all. This too shall pass!
Morality clauses are common in contracts including employment contracts. There is no human rights violation if one is dismissed or contract not renewed because one has breached a contractual morality clause. And the issue here is not merely the fact of pregnancy but that the pregnancy is blatant evidence of the breach of the morality clause.
You can write anything you like in a contract but if it's so far out of whack with common sense it's not worth the paper it's written on. The Catholic Church were sued last year by a teacher who got pregnant through IVF and was sacked, cost them $170k, the opinion given was that you can't sign an agreement that you won't get pregnant.
That might have happened in the U.S. but it won't fly here.
So if they had a clause saying that you could be terminated if you turned out to be Jewish, or black, or Episcopalian, or Republican? ….You do realise that when an employment contract specifies a requirement that is completely unrelated to the job and is more to do with the employers prejudices or personal beliefs, its a problem, right? Or perhaps you don't.
none of those consititute moral grounds…doh
You might have a point but there may be a clear case of gender Discrimmination if it turns out that all the times over the past 20 years or so the moral clause has only been applied against women teachers at Cayman Prep. If this goes to court the Board Of Governors will have to show how many times male teachers have been terminated by the moral clause. Bet you the number is 0. This is the approach I would take if I was an employment lawyer.
I believe Cayman Prep Board Of Directors are going to have a serious problem proving they have treated woman equally as regards gender and the moral clauses in the past.
Children learn by example! Let's set before them the right example.
And how do you suppose the 5 to 10 year olds would know or care if the teacher they like and trust is married or not unless an idiotic grown-up made an issue of it?
what is the right example?
You wouldnt know unless you have some level of morals.
What about the children attending the school who are of a single parent (mother) which is mostly the case?
Does that not amout to the same; should they not be kicked out too?
Thought about that? Didn't think so.
Such a spineless bigoted decision and all made in the name of God. Surely He wouldn't agree with treating someone so disgracefully.
This is clearly ridiculous but unfortunatley the Labor Law does not apply to expats at the end of thier contract.
S 80 Labour Law
No person (whether an employee or an employee) shall discriminate with respect to any person's promotion, dismissal, tenure, wages, hours or other conditions of employment, by reason of race, colour, creed, sex, pregnancy or any reason connected with pregnancy, age, mental or phsical disability (provided their ability to perform the job is not impaired) political belief or the exercise of any rights under this or any other Law.
S. 3 Labour Law
This Law des not apply to …charitable organisations or churches.
But it is likleythat the anti-discrimination provisions in the Gender Equality Law do….. And eg what would have happened if the pregnancy occurred so that the baby would have been born long before the contract was up?
I agree, and Prep should read it fast!
Nothing to do with anything. Any gender could be violation of school rules.
I suggest you read section 19 of the Gender Equality Law:
Nothing in Part 2 affects-
…any other act or practice of a body established for religious purposes, being an actor practice that conforms to the doctrines, tenets or beliefs of a religion or is necessary to avoid injury to the religious susceptibilities of adherents to that religion
Except it is a body formed for education purposes.
A school is not established for religious purposes, it is established for educational purposes, it may be affiliated to a church, but is not established as one.
Actually, it is a mission of the church and part of the mission statement of the school makes it very clear that it is to be governed on Christian principles.
She has to go into Labour before that law comes into effect. She is probably still in the first trimester.
Please be real critics!! The only issue at hand is what contract did Ms. Platt signed upon her employment at CPHS?
Is the contract in violation of the Labour Laws or any other pertinent laws of the Cayman Islands? If the answer is no, then stop this useless bashing of the CIPHS
I don`t believe it is documented in any contract or policy of CPHS
This same thing happened to my mother in the late 1960's; I cannot believe it is happening now!!! My mother worked at a Government Primary school at that time, unbelievable that this policy is still even around!
This is not a govt. primary school, this is a church school. And yes Christian values have been around for 2000 years and will be around for 2000 if life lasts.
Just like Grims Fairly tales and the boogy man
Wasn't Mary an unmarried mother? Isn't conception God's doing?
In Mary's case, yes. Have you heard of the Virgin Birth?
Christian school, thats the main reason why we are so backwards today, people actually still living and believing in this book and all the craziness in it including the barbaric punishments one of which I find totally sickening is stoning and guess what, it still happens today. My thing is, if you are going to live your life as set out in thisbook, then you have to live by all of it not just picking bits and pieces. One of my favorite lines I hear "christians" use almost daily is "judge not lest ye be judged" – really? well let me enlighten you, every decision made in life is due to judgement, e.g., – My friend has a reputation for being a thief, she has been a very good friend to me, but because of that reputation, I am not going shopping with her… – get my point?
OK. Islam has been around for 1500 years and is a religion. So if I set up an Islamic school I can make the staff wear Islamic dress, and employ Sharia in my hiring polices? Or does it depend which religion cause there are good ones and bad ones, right?
Sure, but I surely would not send my child to such a school.
So it's a Christian value to take away the livelihood of a mother to be and to turn her and her unborn child out onto the street? Gee.. awesome values.
Plenty of teaching jobs available in schools which don't have the same principles.
Dear Tara,
Since you spout off so much about how keen you are to end gender discrimination are you going to step in here and offer help to this woman, or are you just talk a lot and do nothing?
Just wonderin'
Oh. I see. The Teachers there cant get pregnant, but the students can. And still attend school.
Yes, exactly, because you don't want to send the wrong…. Oh, wait…
The prejudice being shown by the school is shocking in this day and age and sends a very poor and un-Christian like message to the student population.
I would urge Cayman Prep to score some PR points here before this issue goes viral/international. Use your discretion and CHANGE your rules now.
Only a mere generation ago, people were similarly prejudiced against in the work-place on account of color, nationality and gender.
The times they are a changing. Wake up before this turns into an international witch-hunt!
Justice for Miss Bryony!
I have a better idea. Lets turn it into an internet issue – the volume of flame emails may show the degree of disgust decent people have against this medieval bs. Lets encourage decent people to turn away from the school and send their children somewhere that has compassion and considers teachers on their merits, rather than the personal values of the board. Bet you that holier than thou attitude would evaporate if half the students promptly moved to CIS. My child does not go to Prep, and I look forward to asking every parent I know whose children do if they support this, and why. Its nothing short of an outrage in a modern society.
Why don't they all go to CIS? Maybe the quality. Yea, whay dont they all go to CIS.
Why don't they all go to CIS? Maybe the quality. Yea, whay dont they all go to CIS.
I am a Prep parent and fully support the school's decision for the obvious reason that I expect the school to uphold the Christian standard that is a part of its mission statement. Christian principles did not start in the Middle Ages and are not about to end either. What is an outrage is tha people like you believe that you force a church school to abandon its core values because you don't like them.
This same thing happened to a Caymanian teacher many years ago in Government school
She was told Marry or loose your njob. The teacher married the man. Did not even live together after that ended idivorce.
You mean the one that is currently a Primary School Principal or one of the many others?
One of the many others – including one now head of a secondary school and another a former head of a secondary school.
Am I missing something here, it say that she is pregnant and unmarried, it doesn't mention anything about whether or not she is in a relationship with the father. I was contemplating sending my children to Prep, however after this I may reconsider as I don't want my children to be raised in an unaccepting, unforgiving environment.
I remember when I was at school, our burser decided to 'come out' and announced that he was in fact a women. The school (which was a christian school I may add) considered the impact it would have and agreed to let the him/her stay on. From that day forward She came to school dress in the way they felt most comfortable – dressed as a woman.
Doesn't the bible say John 8.7 – "He who is without sin among you, let him be the first to throw a stone at her."
Matthew 7.1 – "Judge not lest ye be judged" basically meaning If we judge others while failing to see our own shortcomings, we are being hypocritical
If you don't like the rules then by all means send your kids somewhere else.
Move on….not wanted here….
What a bigoted remark.
Similar mentality to the line used by Little Rock High School authorities when refusing black students in1953.
I recall Mary & Joseph also received similar feedback when seeking accomodation all those years ago.
Yeah – how about if an employer refused your application because of the colour of your skin, or because you were Caymanian, or because you supported the wrong political party, or because of your sex – bet you wouldnt be so gung ho then. You are saying discrimination is ok as what the guy that pays the wages says goes – but we moved on as a civilised society from that a while ago. Think about it – if I set up a school and said only white people need send their children here – would that be alright? Or is it that as long as its a form of discrimination you agree with, its ok? You need to look in the mirror and think about what that says about you as a human being.
not issues of morality
Apples and oranges. This teacher was already employed on the basis of rules she chose to break. Her contract was not renewed. End of story.
People need to stop using the bible for their own gain.
Comiting fornication has noting to do with school rules. Fornicating and getting pegnnt is wrong, especially a school teacher. I wonder what would hapen if she was Caymanian or Jmaican and black. Hello !!
Well if she was Caymanian they would not be able to terminate her.
http://genderequality.gov.ky/sites/default/files/GENDER-EQUALITY-COMPLAINT-FORM.pdf
Discrimanatory hiring practices have long been the norm in Cayman schools, public and private. This is nothing new. Leave the children out of it.
The current Board of Governors is listed here;
http://www.cayprep.edu.ky/Page/About-CPHS/School-Governance
My child is in this ladies class, should this affect in any way shape or form affect the education of those students, they will all feel the wrath of God, of that I can assure you.
God help us when the first gay teacher comes out.
Revelation 12:9 – "And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him."
SMH – Prep parent.
Happens in the US… Kids support it… It's called the modern world…
http://www.cnn.com/video/?/video/us/2014/06/05/pkg-school-principal-comes-out-gay-pride-day.wusa&video_referrer=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.cnn.com%2Fvideo%2Fdata%2F2.0%2Fvideo%2Fus%2F2014%2F06%2F05%2Fpkg-school-principal-comes-out-gay-pride-day.wusa.html%3Fhpt%3Dhp_t3
09;38
Kids in the US are taking guns to their schools…they lost all morals when they took the Bible and whip out the schools
I predict the entering waiting list will be much shorter….or non-existent.
Perhaps next Friday, instead of the usual civvy day, Prep's board could sell bags of stones to the students for $2 a bag,and they can then stone this excellent teacher on the school field. That seems to be representative of the school board's evolvement as civilised "Christian" human beings.
Does this also mean that Prep are now going to dismiss all students who were born out of wedlock? What about all students whose parents are not Christian ie. members of other faiths, agnotics, atheists, etc? I guess these are all alright because they pay a lot of money to the school. Without them, there wouldn't be too many students left.
Prep school board, it's 2014, not 1714.
The advert for replacement should be
"Single mothers or those planning on being a single mother need not apply"
Maybe they shouldchange it for students as well.
"No single parent children"
She needs a lawyer.
Just for fun let's consider Cayman islands Labour Law (2011) for a moment. Go to Clause 80. (1) which reads:
80. (1) No person (whether an employer or an employee) shall discriminate with respect to any person’s hire, promotion, dismissal, tenure, wages, hours or other conditions of employment, by reason of race, colour, creed, sex, pregnancy or any reason connected with pregnancy, age, mental or physical disability (provided their ability to perform the job is not impaired), political belief or the exercise of any rights under this or any other Law.
And section 80. (3)
(3) A person who contravenes subsection (1), commits an offence and is liable on summary conviction to a fine of five thousand dollars and to imprisonment for twelve months.
Seems to me the school might want to find a lawyer too.
I regret to say that contract law takes precedent over labour and gender laws in the British Common Law system and that is the crux of the problem for this poor lady. She signed a contract and they will use that contract and it's morality clauses against her.
A contract cannot contain elements that are contrary or not-compliant with Labour Law. Compliance is the key. Saying a contract would precede Labour Law is absurd – you cannot sign away your basic rights – that is the fundamental purpose of the Law. A contract must provide at least what is dictated in the Law and can do better, but can never be less and for that reason it appears the School must answer to it's apparently discriminatory policy against pregnancy.
I hope you are correct in this case' and I am proven wrong but I have very serious concerns about what you say. In the past few years there have been a number of cases where labour law and religious autonomy have collided. Religious schools/ institutions have argued successfully in Canada, England and the U.S. utilizing the concept of something called Ministerial Exception with variations on the concept by country. I am certain that with time and lobbying by woman's groups laws will be changed in those countries and the Cayman Islands. Hoping the best for an excellent teacher and hope the Board reverses their archaic decision.
Boycott prizegiving next week.
Better yet – make your opinions loud and clear at prize giving. If a Board Member speaks or is introduced – UTTER SILENCE. When Miss B takes to the stage, stand up, clap, cheer, and keep going until the point is made loud and clear!!!!
and we scold at the old school principles in th middle east….remember the woman who was recently stoned to death for marrying someone who was not chosen by her family?! We live in a modern society but actions like this makes us look like the same muslim extremists!
Parents – how about staging a "sick out"? Choose a day and "vote with your (children's) feet". Don't take your kids to school unless they have a exam or something as important.
I would participate but I no longer have children at the school.
I'm sure the many, many singleparents who have children at Prep are being totally alienated by this.
The same United Church in Jamaica also preaches that you get aids when you are gay, but that god can cure you.
The most scary part is the fact that there are people actually believing that.
You do stand a high risk of contracting HIV if you engage in homosexual sex. The mixture of blood, semen and faeces greatly increases the risk. That is a scientific fact, not a matter of a religious belief.
God has no limits.
well it seems than when he was about to make you smart he stopped!!
just using your own statement im teaching you FOR FREE that homosexual activity does not increase the risk of getting AIDS. Just using your words what you are describing is anal coitus and that happens in homo/hetero sexual relations. Just right there you learned.
Now, unprotected, promiscuos sexual relations that involved penetration… THAT, INCREASES THE RISK of been infected with HIV, that is just in case you have to talk in public again so you dont sound like a morom confusing HIV with AIDS.
Idiot, HIV is the virus that causes AIDS. You don't contract AIDS, you contract HIV.
Morom! Brilliant… your grammar and spelling are quite exceptional-I would love to know what school you attended.
Accept my apologies for it, I went to school in another country with a different language,spanish to be exact. In my years in college, university and while doing my doctorade the language was different. But if the error you see is in my grammar and not in the comment i adressed them i got something else to say, my grammar can improved your perceptions obviously can not, there are things that just can not be learned……
Morom? Rule 1 – when flaming someone for a spelling error, do try to avoid one yourself. Twat.
What are you talking about? I was highlighting that the previous post had used the word Morom instead of Moron. I thought it was amusing that when they were attempting to insult someone they used the wrong word. Obviously sarcasm is lost on you….
Fred the Piemaker you got that one wrong! They were laughing at the use of the word Morom.
Whoops a bit embarassing…
No, that is not a "fact" it is a sad example of a complete misunderstanding of how AIDS is spead.
Yes the risk of transmission of AIDS through Anal intercourse is aprox 18 times higher but it has nothing to do with mixing semen, poop and blood. It has nothing to do with whether the sex is between homosexuals or Heterosexuals. If you want to educate yourself go to:
http://aids.gov/hiv-aids-basics/prevention/reduce-your-risk/sexual-risk-factors/
Seriously?? Your ignorance is embarassing.
well it seems than when he was about to make you smart he stopped!!
just using your own statement im teaching you FOR FREE that homosexual activity does not increase the risk of getting AIDS. Just using your words what you are describing is anal coitus and that happens in homo/hetero sexual relations. Just right there you learned.
Now, unprotected, promiscuos sexual relations that involved penetration… THAT, INCREASES THE RISK of been infected with HIV, that is just in case you have to talk in public again so you dont sound like a morom confusing HIV with AIDS.
Not true. I am a member of the United Church of Jamaica and the CI and I have NEVER heard this being preached. I have kids at CPHS and totally disagree with the policy as regards the teacher who is pregnant and her permit not being renewed. However, on the whole I find the United Church one of the most amenable "middle of the round" and open-minded religious outfits. That is why I am surprised and disappointed that they still have such archaic stipulations in their contracts. The main issue I have with it is that it marginalises women – as how are you going to apply this morality rule against the male teachers – who show no proof of having created a pregnancy? The second issue is – if we are going to have such draconian rules for teachers / staff, then surely fair is fair and you would have to ensure the whole school body including children and parents, abide by the same morals. If that is the case we'd lose half our school body.
As a Christian school yes we can aim for the utmost levels of morality etc. but the reality is that true Christian love and acceptance and forgiveness would indicate embracing this teacher and supporting her in her pregnancy and having her job there forher in September.
Matthew 6:9-15
This issue is not about forgiveness. It is about the example being set for our children in a church school environment.
Yes, the Prep Board is showing a great example…If you don't conform to our ideals you will be harassed and excluded. Disgusting.
How ridiculous. Employees are dismissed every day for breaching employers' codes of conduct but they don't make headlines.
When the codes of conduct are relevant to the job rather than the personal views of the employer. Substitute unmarried for black, gay, Jewish, polictial affiliation – see how it doesnt really work?
What rubbish rolling up things that have nothing to do with each other. This is a morality issue. Of course if you are a practising homosexual that would also apply and so it should.
Obviously they are relevant to the job of teacher in a Christian school.
So you still feel that the teacher has committed a sin then?
Obviously.
No – personally I do not feel the teacher committed a sin. That was to illustrate how the Board (likely) feels, and what the biblical guidance is on it.
So you don't believe what the bible teaches but you are a member of the United Chuch?
…video: starts referring to his book Year of Living Bibically at 2:53
9;37
Thats between her and Christ..Was she cleansed spiritually, was she baptise with water? its the only way to get forgiveness!
Christian forgiveness in action at Prep.
Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven.
John 8:7 NIV
This is quite a separate issue from forgiveness. This is about the example being set for impressionable teenage students at the school. And stop misusing scripture. What it certainly does not mean isthat one should have no standards.
Give me a break. Has there been any question as to her teaching ability ? Unwed mothers are very common in the Caribbean and as far as I am concerned they should be focusing on her teaching not on her life outside of school. As a previous comment says "Judge not lest ye be judged."
You are entitled to your opinion but in no way should the school be forced to adopt your values, or lack of them.
LOL. So you think the only reason one should ever be terminated is because of lack of ability to do the job?
As I said before stop misusing scripture to justify wrongdoing.
I would think that the Gender Equality Law should be able to take care of this matter even though she is private sector. So what would Cayman Prep's Board do if they found out that one of their unmarried male teachers had impregnated someone would he be dismissed also. This is discrimination at its best. And then there is the defunct Labour Department who should be able to assist with this but with a mole at the helm don't expect anything from him. He tries his best to do nothing and then to find ways to not assist rather than find ways to assist. Oh my Lawd what is happening in this country.
Why is this even a news story? CIPHS is a church school and has rules of conduct that require teachers to set a Christian example. The teacher agreed to those rules and then broke them in a very visible way. Is there a news story every time someone gets canned because they broke the rules of their employer? Ridiculous.
"To why is this a news. Story": because the rules violate the greatest law of all — love — and because the rules violate Ms Platt's human rights.
you are missing the point. We are concerned about the rules that have led them to make a most egregious error.
As someone mentioned, we use to stone women who "sinned" in the past — and they actually still do in some parts of the world.
here is a thought board: stick your noses further in Ms Platt's business and you might a find a church brother who needs to me equally taken care of. Right! Good luck on that!
@6:59 Your comment struck a chord with me! the words "in a very visible way" – so its ok to hide and do your dirt but you dare not let us know you have been having sex (oops she got pregnant, now there is no way to keep that a secret!), smoking, drinking, partying or whatever we consider not christian like, whilst teaching at our christian school. What a bunch of hypocrites. I hope I live long enough to see all this religious madness completely done away with, seriously, I am sick and tired of hearing about it (shooks!!, had my teeth clenched so hard, I gotta go see a dentist now).
No, that's not the point. The point is that it is self-evident that she has broken the morality code. It is not a matter of speculation.
Are there any males working at Cayman Prep that have children out of wedlock?
A few things wrong here. I thought women had rights and cannot (should not) be removed from employment due to pregnancy. If there aren't there should be rights. It would make it a legal issue and parents can present the school with the out rage from that angle.
If the law is in place the teacher herself can arm with a lawyer to fight the school. The governmental school board, labour board and women's resource center should then assess the school for it's school policies (possibly outdated and illegal), hiring practices/contracts and treatment of employees.
This is Tara Rivers expertise. Where is she on this? It shouldn't matter that it is a private school.
Women do have rights. But not after you signed a contract. You are responsible for what you sign. And if you are professing Christianity you are responsible for that profession too. SELF-RESPONSIBILITY LADIES! LET US BE AN EXAMPLE TO OUR CHILDREN SO THEY TOO WILL LEARN TO BE RESPONSIBLE.
Sad for her but she knew she was working for a church school. Catch 22: if the school retained her, there would be even more crying down the church about standards. Even the Government would remove her from the classroom. Unlike them, however, the school probably doesn’t have anywhere else to place her. I’m sure if they did, they would. A decision has been made…
To "SAd for her…." , the board should not concern itself about inappropriate public "crying down". That should never enter into the basis for decision making. And by the way, a woman who is choosing to have a child rather than having an abortion — despite the trials she faces — is setting extraordinarily high standards.
And if what you describe is the government's policy — it is also wrong — for all the reasons that others have noted — and the government too could be challenged in court under the bill of rights, too, I am sure.
What's the catch 22?
As a parent of two children at Prep (and another due to start in September) I am appalled at this archaic decision by the Board. It runs completely contrary to the message of tolerance and respect that the school preaches.
The letter from the Board to parents does nothing to address the real issue here. They claim, “that as in all partnerships there will be times when there are disagreements.”
This is not a “disagreement”; it is a matter of basic human rights and decency.
Then move your kids. Problem solved. But you won't. Because you know the Board is right not to let anything slip. Be it the paint, the internal rules or the grades.
Ahh yes, the old ‘rules are the rules’ argument.
Fair enough I guess. Perhaps Rosa should have given up her seat on the bus, or Nelson accepted his 27 years in jail, or ……
This is blatant discrimination by a supposedly Christian institution against an unmarried pregnant woman. The irony is almost laughable.
Apples and oranges.
Now you sound like McKeeva. "Bureacratic harrassment".
Total red herring. Rosa was not in breach of any morality clause of her employment. The laws of segregation were themselves immoral.
But this rule is not… I see. I am sure the KKK think that segregation on buses was more than reasonable too. Hey – Donald Sterling thought that because he owned the Clippers he could dictate who his wife brought to the games, to sit in the seats that he owned. Want to defend that/? Seem to remember the Conservative Party in South Africa being frightfully keen on "morality" rules too, including the mixing of the races – perhaps Prep should introduce those too? Message pal – in the modern millenium where the rest of us live, you do not get to impose your narrow social values on wider society – you are welcome to have those views and express them in private, but you dont get to impose them on others.
Fred the Piemaker is a Troll ! Man confused on morality …. DONT FEED HIM!
You need a psyche evaluation!
If you don't have the same values as the school then move your children to a new school. Simple.
It runs completely in sync with the values the school stands for which obviously don't matter to you.
The point is, these should not be rules at any school in this day and age.
One has to wonder why the Cayman Prep School Board accepts applicants who come from single parent homes if this if this is their standpoint?? Oh that's right, because money walks.
The whole thing is ludicrous.
Are you nuts? Now you are trying to dictate the values that an institution owned and operated by a church should have?
That is poor logic. They should welcome students from a single parent home so that they can at least get a good example at school.
Are you saying that the church is exempt from basic human rights?
There is no breach of basic human rights.
yup … basically that is what alot of these commenters are saying
Wow, I think you are the one sniffing glue pal. What a degrading comment… I know of many single parent family homes that provide far better examples to that of some double parent households, so get off your high horse.
I am not trying to dictate anything just merely pointing out that this situation is incredibly discrimantory and hypocritical.
So by your logic children from single parent homes do not get good examples at home?
So it would then mean that about 50% or even more of Caribbean children do not get good examples at home?
Proof's in the pudding. (They don't.)
You're an idiot. My father grew up in a single parent home, and he is one of the best fathers and most responsible men I have ever met. My children are growing up in a single parent home, and theyhave some very good examples to follow in my father, and oh yeah – me too (their educated, hard working mother.)
A single parent home is never ideal. I acknowledge that in some cases it can't be helped and that some children of single parent families turn out well.
We as the parents and children are the core of CPHS and should also have a say in the values and standards that are set. We rely on the Board of Governors to make decisions in the best interest of our children. In this case they did not. They have made a decision based on their personal beliefs and not the view of the majority of the families at CPHS. All of us are fighting to keep this teacher because she is an excellent teacher who is dedicated to her profession. The best example I could ever show my children is a teacher of Ms Bryony's calibre. As for your suggestion that we move our children to another school….With all due respect, I would never teach my children to leave a school (or job) at the first sign of a disagreement. I would encourage them to speak up and have their opinion heard if they feel strongly about a particular decision and try to reach an agreement.
Read the sign at the gate! OWNED and OPERATED by the United Church in Jamaica and the Cayman Islands. While, i am sure it makes business sense to listen to your customers, unlike a business only intent on making a profit, this School has a mission set by its owners, and sometimes in furtherance of the mission they have to remain focused and not be sidetracked by dissenters, no matter how loud! We hear but we have a greater mission! SO respectfully, we will stand our ground.
No, not really. If you don't like what the school stands for then vote with your feet.
wha … lol … the school is a "christian" school, it is faith affiliated …. how are you going to tell them that they must change their faith ?????
I do not have a child at the school but find it incredible that, in this day and age, Employment Rights and Human Rights are still being ignored on Cayman.
Anywhere elese in the civilised world and the school would be facing a court case that would cost them many $1,000s.
It will be interesting to see how they teach Christian Values now seeing that they don't seem to have any
They didn't stone her in the public square, so I suppose that's progress.
I realize that postnatal care indicates obstacles toward scholastic continuity, but not renewing her contract? Way to kick someone when they're struggling. … and in light of what appears to be an overwhelming vote of support from the parents, why are we not trying to work out a solution that satisfies all parties?
If her contract was not renewed because she is pregnant and unmarried, then I am disgusted with us. I have a round stone that anybody can cast if they think they are worthy.
Do the right thing, Board of Governors. Honor the spirit of your Mission Statement.
To the Cayman Prep Board of Governors,
It is offensive that you are attempting tojustify discrimination on the basis that you are upholding Christian principles.
I have taught my children that Christianity is about love, respect and acceptance. Your archaic and ignorant beliefs are not something my family will ever tolerate or condone.
Perhaps it is time to revist the Bible.
James1:26
If anyone thinks he is religous and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his heart, this person's religon is worthless.
You all should be ashamed of yourselves, how many of you are involved in illicit relationships, immoral behavior and unrighteous activities.
LOL … what a piece of accusations!
Wow so the school board is seriously citing Christian ethics as their reason for not renewing this excellent teacher's contract?! Well what is good for the goose is good for the gander. Perhaps the public should fine teeth the personal lives of all members of the Cayman Prep & High School Board of Governors. I wonder if we will come across any un-Christian like qualities or scandals of these said members? Will we see if YOU have or have not been living up to those very same Christian standards you stand for? Talking, breathing Christianity and don't live it! Shame on you!!
It is a bit of an antiquated policy, the type that in the not too distant past led women to have abortions. Fortunately, we have been moving beyond this and we see many women deciding to have theirbabies fearlessly and with the joy they should rightly have.
I can imagine that some people on the board may feel strongly about this, but I really ask them to consider what Jesus would have done were he walking amongst us today. Think of the love with which he would have embraced this lovely woman and her unborn child. Somehow I ant imagine him doing anything else at all.
From that same perspective, what about the dictates of the Bible that we should not judge? Can anyone really know the true circumstances of anoher humanbeing's innermost thoughts and motiations that are really the determiners of purity or otherwise — not a law. And by the way, think of those marriages that are perfectly legal but perfectly sinful in the way those involved live their lives. Who can truly know what our most secret thoughts are. If that could be known, a lot of us would be in deep, deep ….
And how about the normal civil right to a private life without nosey noses dipping into it?
As a society we must move beyond the gossiping, judging, and interfering in other people's lives.
I am a single parent and I will never forget the night I told a born-again Christian lady that I had a baby on the way. She hugged me and was so genuinely happy for what was truly a blessed event in my life.
As Christians, that is what we should be doing, you know.
I congratulate Ms Platt and wish her all the joys that this new life will assuredly bring her.
Cayman Prep's loss will be another school's gain. Many windows will be opening up for her.
This is a gross a use of Ms. Platts human rights.
Hey, I just had an idea — could not Ms Platt side the board under Cayman Bill of Rights? She should get a lawyer.
Christians? Mary was an unmarried Mother .Prep Board of Governors you should be ashamed of yourselves. I certainly don't want my children attending a school that practices discrimination , especially in the name of religion .
Excelent. Problem solved. Keep out of Prep School's bussiness.
School obviously didn't do you a lot of good. Perhaps you should concentrate on learning to spell instead of passing moral judgements.
Until MY government stops giving you yearly monetary supplements…THERE IS NO WAY IN HELL!! Good day 🙂
Your Government? Because I don't agree with discrimination you assume I am an ex-pat? Or is it because I can spell?
Government pays for a service they cant or dont choose to provide. They may take their money and spend it elsewhere if they decide. Let CPHS make its own decisions! Not because you dont agree to the rule…
I think you missed the bit about her virginal conception of Jesus.
Absolutely pathetic actions on behalf of the Board! Such a huge loss to the school.
Meanwhile (confirmed by my kids) Ms. Bryony appears at work professionally every day with a smile on her face for the children. Good lass!
Unconscionable. Her medical coverage will likely end with her contract. How is she supposed to get new medical coverage with her pre existing condition? What if there are complications? If the Pope can modernise, so can you. CPHS board – you can do better than that. It's never too late to do the right thing.
Very good point, once you are already pregnant, you cannot get health insurance to cover the pregnancy and delivery. This is a disgrace in this day and age.
Please advise where donations can be sent or paid into to help Ms. Bryony with her medical bills, moving costs or legal costs if she decides to take the school to court.
This is an "ever changing world", get with the times Prep, do what you claim to do in your Mission Statement:
"provide a stimulating learning environment, firmly rooted in Christian principles, in which our students become critical creative thinkers, responsible citizens and lifelong learners in an ever changing world". …
They are: "…firmly rooted in Christian principles".
What a crock of shit from these christians! i mean so called..
Yeah, who do they think they are that they can uphold their values in one of their own schools! They must conform to ours! [sarcasm].
What values?? If they are going by this thensurely children from single parent families not be able to attend???
Why? That doesn't follow. Those children have not breached any moral code.
Government used to do this or force the women to get married (usually to useless men) but had to stop it nearly ten years ago because of Human Rights challenges. Of course, the churches don't give a damn about human rights, just "fornication". You see, none of the ministers of these churches or the board members (like Roman Catholic priests) ever have sexual misadventures in their lives so they can afford to take these steps to preserve "morality".
A reason why CI Lawmakers should have held fast to "The Bill of Rights" applying to ALL, and not just applying to Government!
And by extension, why many in the private sector (including the churches) lobbied so hard to exempt themselves!
One should have the right to marry or not to marry…and also to have children without marrying! The church (or anyone) should not have the right to infringe on someones human rights!
My friend, one has the "right" to marry or not marry, to have children in marriage or outside of marriage. One also has the "right" to choose not to work in a place that makes demands that run counter to one's right. The school also has a "right" to determine who should be a teacher there. Parents have a "right" to choose which school to send their children. LETS ALL LEAVE EACH OTHER TO EXERCISE THEIR "RIGHTS"!
In my opinion, I understand how some these parents (both single and two-parent families must feel regarding such an action taking place of what seems to be a very liked teacher, as I am a parent myself and if my child went to that school i would maybe want to feel the same way too. However, everyone also need to understand and recognize that if someone, an insitution or an organzation has certain principles you have to respect them. Period.
There are a lot of things that happen in our lives that many people disagree with. But it still happens. An example is of people who are causing absolutely NO harm to society, and have strong ambition and they use marijuana (which is a natural plant, not medically or chemically formed). But since this individual is not abiding my the princples and rules of the country, they are jailed or prisioned.
Another example is someone who is guy/lesbian. One would feel as though they should not be discrimated against. However, they are discriminated against because in most countries it goes against their principles and in some cases country's law as well.
So, if one should be free to be guy/lesbian, and one should be free to use marijuana then an institution should be free to set their our principles and if the teacher got pregnant out of wedlock and it is a principle or rule of the school that something of that natural should not happen out of intension, then, by all right the school has a right to not renew the teacher's contract, and everyone needs to understand that.
Each person, each family, each instiution and each organization has its own principles, rules, laws and procedures and they all should be respect even if somoene that we all like fail victim to one of these.
I was unaware that being a guy was so morally corrupt. I will arrange my sex change with Chrissie Tomlinson at the earliest opportunity.
Sorry, she is sending the wrong message to the students and parents. I agree with the board's decision.
On this basis a child of a single parent should not be allowed to attend the school either – how many would that rule out?
That doesn't follow. A parent is not an employee of the school and does not operate in the school environment. Also that would be punishing the child instead of the parent.
That's exactly why a good example needs to be set in the school since some children don't have it at home.
She is not setting a bad example: her students are 5 and 6 year olds , who do not go around asking who is, was or will be married! She does not teach religious education for high schoolers! She teaches spellings, maths of Year 1 level! She is an excellent teacher, loving, caring – a great professional. As a Prep School parent I do not accept the school's decision and will not give PTA money for the school to pay lawyers to defend such an anti-human rigths decision! We parents and society members have to get together in a serious way to prevent this abuse from ever repeating itself in Cayman. As for teenage girls, regarding their sexual conduct… they get examples from celebrities, not from their primary school teachers.
This is not a good example for the tennage girsl in the school.
The school board made the right decision.
She is not a teenage girl whose education will be interrupted or unfinished because of a pregnancy. She is in a committed relationship and you are comparing apples with oranges.
And you are missing the point. It is about the example being set by a teacher in a church school. If se can get pregnant while unmarried why can't I?
No, I think you are missing the point. Family values, safe sex, common sense, etc. are ethics to be instilled at home. Any intelligent child/teenager should know the difference of starting a family at the appropriate time in their life.
Anyone that easily influenced will need some serious help in the modern world.
Now that's a really stupid comment in light of what is happening around us. We should try to be surrounding our children with positive influences instead of negative ones.
I agree with your first point… discriminating against a professional woman who is about to start a family is a horrible example to set for any child.
But if you honestly believe that Miss Platt's current position will influence teenage girls to get pregnant, then you need to go crawl back under the rock you came out of.
So are we to conclude that the pious school administrators are encouraging her to get an abortion inorder to keep her job?
You are to conclude that the pregnancy was blatant evidence of a breach of the moral code of the school and an abortion would be another breach. Capiche?
Really? All of a sudden Prep School has morals? They have students having sex, taking drugs, but an umarried teacher who is to be come a mother is going to be crucified? They have had a teacher before that was pregnant and unmarried and in no way was she a good teacher….thats prep schools policy get rid of all the good teachers, this has been going on for years!!!!