Cape Town - A string of misconduct charges has been brought against a Cape Town principal, including two relating to letters published in the Cape Argus in which he criticised the Western Cape Education Department.
But South Peninsula High principal Brian Isaacs says the department is simply trying to bully him into silence for daring to criticise its policies and officials.
According to the charge sheet, Isaacs is facing five charges of misconduct, including one relating to an incident with an official in September.
Isaacs is alleged to have been disrespectful towards the official or to have “demonstrated abusive or insolent behaviour” towards the man by, among other things, shouting at him to “leave my school”, calling him a “spineless creature and spineless bureaucrat” and telling him “charge me”.
Two of the five charges relate to two letters published in the Cape Argus on September 18 and November 2.
Isaacs is alleged to have “displayed disrespect towards others in the workplace or demonstrated abusive or insolent behaviour towards your employer” by stating, among other things, in the first letter that the education department uses the testimony of schoolchildren to attack teachers.
His statements made in the second letter included that the department’s directorate of employee relations “is an anti-teacher labour relations department” and that the department is the cause of ill-discipline in schools and “a law unto themselves”.
On Tuesday, Isaacs said: “This department doesn’t believe in freedom of speech.
“I raised all of these issues with the department and they either didn’t have answers or ignored me. When I turned to the newspaper to state my views, they take this approach. They can’t handle criticism against them. I’ve said it before – they are on a witch-hunt against me.”
He has been scheduled to appear before a disciplinary hearing on November 20.
Isaacs said he had given 38 years of service to the department and would defend himself against the allegations.
Earlier this year, another disciplinary hearing was held against Isaacs, also relating to charges of misconduct.
This included that he had allegedly assaulted a pupil “by hitting him against the back/or shoulder blade with your hand”.
Isaacs said he was awaiting the outcome of this case.
Western Cape Education Department spokesman Paddy Attwell said: “We cannot comment on (Isaacs’s) allegations while the disciplinary process is under way.”
Cape Argus
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