Another parent charged for assaulting teacher

Steve Dick, a construction worker of Turkeyen, East Coast Demerara (ECD), is the second parent charged this month for allegedly assaulting a public school teacher.
Dick was taken before Magistrate Alisha George at the Sparendaam Magistrates’ Courts. He denied the charge which stated that he unlawfully and maliciously assaulted Shawn Marshall on January 11, 2023 so as to cause him actual bodily harm.
Dick was released on $40,000 and instructed to return to court on March 23.
According to reports, Dick, a parent of a pupil who attends the Graham’s Hall Primary School, Greater Georgetown, physically assaulted the graduate teacher. It is unclear what led to the alleged assault. Marshall reportedly had to be taken to the hospital after the incident.
Last week, a 29-year-old cosmetologist accused of assaulting a teacher of the St Angela’s Primary School in Georgetown appeared in court and was placed on $50,000 bail.
Ashelle Clement, of Lot 14 Dowding Street, Kitty, Georgetown, has not been required to plead to the charge when she appeared before the Chief Magistrate at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court. It is alleged that on January 12, at St Angela’s Primary School, she unlawfully assaulted Nicasey Barker, a teacher, so as to cause her actual bodily harm.
Clement’s matter had been adjourned until tomorrow.
The Education Ministry had issued a statement condemning the physical attacks on the educators and had warned that persons engaging in such acts would face the full brunt of the law.
In fact, Chief Education Officer (CEO) Saddam Hussain had said, “Whatever the circumstances, (assaulting a teacher) is a reprehensible and ghastly act. It is unacceptable, and will not be condoned in the least.”
According to the Ministry, schools are considered safe spaces, and any act of violence is deemed totally unacceptable.
“When parents or guardians are engaged in violent acts against teachers, it goes against established values, norms and expectations. We cannot beat teachers and then ask them to teach our children peaceful conflict resolution,” the CEO had said.
He had added that the Ministry would, therefore, take all appropriate actions to ensure that all teachers continue to work in a safe and secure environment.
Such actions, it has been noted, include prohibiting violent parents or guardians from having access to school premises, and transferring any learner whose parent commits any act of violence on any teacher; or any other sanction deemed necessary while the Police or any other institution or authority would be encouraged to take whatever action the law prescribes.
The CEO has reminded all parents and guardians that in any instance where an incident occurs with a teacher, the matter must be brought to the attention of the head teacher or teacher-in-charge of the school or institution.
The phenomenon of teachers being attacked at places of learning by parents or guardians, and even in some cases by students themselves has been a cause for concern over the years.
Meanwhile, Guyana Teachers’ Union (GTU) President Mark Lyte had called on the Education Ministry to do more to protect teachers.
“The union is here in solidarity with the teachers of this school. This is becoming too frequent, where teachers are being assaulted by parents and guardians; and it is something that has to be addressed forthwith. So, we are going to continue to make the call to the Ministry to take decisive action,” Lyte had told media operatives. (G1)