Page 5898 - Week 14 - Wednesday, 8 December 2010
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the minister after the meeting she attended at Bimberi. The teacher—he was a recently arrived teacher—wrote:
I have sensed a great deal of anguish and disappointment amongst the teaching staff.
He goes on to say:
… although I did try hard not to become involved there are too many issues that are impeaching on the future of so many young residents and health and safety issues, poor class room group designs and the many issues that teachers are battling with on a daily basis. In fact I am appealing to you—
he is saying this to the minister—
and your office to really think hard about changing the way that teachers have to battle over, what often seem to be trivial matters …
Mr Speaker, another email I received from another staff member who attended the meeting made the following kinds of comments:
She—
the Minister—
stated that she had no idea what was happening at Bimberi.
My correspondent went on:
The main issues raised were lack of staff, retaining staff, bullying mentality of management, attitude of racism from management toward the islander staff members, lack of Programs for young detainees, 12 hour shifts … among a few other issues. The Minister appears out of her depth.
This worker also made this observation:
One of the islander staff, tearfully, raised the issue of a past islander staff member getting sacked … for an alleged simple assault on a young detainee and another white staff member being given a promotion after strangling a young detainee and leaving his handprints of bruises around his neck and breaking his capillaries in his eyes.
The worker continued:
Myself and another white staff member also highlighted the undercurrent of racism towards staff giving examples, such as the islanders being called gorillas by management and the islanders being overlooked for promotion. Joy Burch covered her ears and said, “La, la, la.” I was absolutely horrified that she did that. She also called the young detainees “little buggers” throughout the meeting.
Also of concern was the comment made by this worker:
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