Response to Bronagh Hammond’s letter: “LETTER: Frequent columns attack WCED heads”
I write as a columnist for the Cape Argus, not as a dismissed former employee of the Western Cape Education Department.
But I want to say to Ms Hammond: I wear my dismissal from WCED as badge of honour in education. I was not guilty of any transgression that brought education into disrepute. I have written about issues which I felt WCED handled badly as well as issues concerning the National Department of Basic Education, where it handled issues non-educationally.
Mr Wesley Neumann’s labour court action against WCED is a historic event in the history of labour relations in South Africa.
The labour relations department has been used as a vehicle to suppress free speech in education.
Some leaders in WCED have bullied teachers who stand up to them. We fought hard for a democratic South Africa. I never saw these leaders before 1994, involved in the struggles of the people.
Hammond is but a spokesperson for those in control of education.
If WCED can drop charges against teacher Mr Glen Snyman for putting “African” on his application form then it can drop charges against Mr Wesley Neumann for protecting his pupils. Nowhere in the world has a principal been charged for protecting students. It can only happen in a DA-controlled province in SA. I was taught by my resolute teachers - speak truth to power, no matter the consequences.
* Brian Isaacs obtained a BSc (UWC) in 1975, a Secondary Teacher’s Diploma in 1976, BEd (UWC) in 1981, and MEd (UWC) in 1992. He is a former matriculant, teacher and principal at South Peninsula High School.
** The views expressed here are not necessarily those of Independent Media.
WCED not on the side of the poor
The letter (Cape Argus, Friday, October 16) contributed by Bronagh Hammond refers.
Vladimir Lenin said, “A lie told often enough becomes the truth The WCED tries to spin stories and always get tripped up. The best thing that could have happened was for this newspaper to allow Mr Brian Isaacs to contribute towards matters pertaining to education in our country. Unlike the Education MEC in the province, Mr Isaacs brings forth a vast amount of knowledge about education. Can Ms Hammond tell us what experiences do any of the two in WCED have in the schools of the poor? Did they ever teach at any schools of the poor? Brian Isaacs was dismissed because he spoke truth to power.
The department thought that by dismissing Brian Isaacs, they would silence him. We look forward to his "Education Matters" piece every Thursday.
The fact about principal Wesley Neuman is that the department has been prevented from proceeding with the disciplinary process. Mr Neuman was within his right to approach the court.
Hammond claims that the WCED “Did not have sufficient time to file answering papers”. The problem with the department is that instead of making sure that our schools in the poor areas have sufficient resources, it wastes valuable time and taxpayers’ money to take on a principal who stood up in defence of his children’s safety during the peak of the coronavirus pandemic.
* Abdurahman Khan, Rylands Estate.
** The views expressed here are not necessarily those of Independent Media.
Cape Argus
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