The teacher, who spoke on condition of anonymity, told THE STAR that rampant misconduct by students is commonplace, but things got worse recently when two members of staff were assaulted in one week.

According to the teacher, the dean of discipline was attacked on September 28 and had to receive stitches, while another teacher was assaulted on October 1.

The frantic teacher explained that in the alleged October-1 incident, a teacher attempted to end a fight when he was punched in the face.

'Waste man'

"The teacher held on to his (student's) bag and the boy turned around and thump the teacher in the face," she said, adding that the teacher was referred to as a 'waste man'.

According to reports, the male student was escorted off the school compound by police officers, while the teacher was taken for medical attention.

Since both incidents, teachers have been uneasy.

"One of us is going to die over there," the unnamed teacher said. "I could have been the one that the child did that to. The teachers are traumatised."

Ray Howell, a former president of the Jamaica Teachers' Association (JTA) and principal of the school, said internal investigations are being conducted in both matters.

"There is an incident internally that we have dealt with," he said. "All these are internal issues and the school deals with internal issues. There is a policy and a process. I have not got the full reports from all the parties involved."

Appropriate action

Responding specifically to the alleged October 1 incident, Howell said the matter was reported to the police and he expects appropriate action to be taken.

However, the Duhaney Park police say they have no knowledge of the incidents.

When THE STAR contacted the Ministry of Education (MOE), it was revealed that the government entity had yet to receive reports regarding either matter, but an investigation would be launched.