The Anglican Church has expressed concern about what it calls, the extensive public discourse in the media, generated by the issue of the head girl of St Hilda’s High School being relieved of her post, and the subsequent reinstatement.
16-year-old, Jade Bascoe was appointed head girl and house captain for the 2015/2016 academic year at the Anglican-affiliated school, but was stripped of those titles because of her association with the Jehovah’s Witness body.
The Public Defender, who probed the matter, found that the move by the school’s principal, amounted to religious discrimination and recommended Jade’s reinstatement.
The school board reviewed its decision and reinstated Jade.
However, in a statement yesterday (October 30, 2015), head of the Anglican Church in Jamaica and the Cayman Islands, Right Reverend Howard Gregory says while the discourse reflected the freedom of expression and healthy democracy which citizens enjoyed, this was an undesirable means to resolve such issues.
Rt Rev Howard Gregory
He says the appropriate channel for dealing with such disputes must be engaged, as prescribed, so that matters can be resolved without recrimination, victimisation and unwarranted smearing of the character of individuals and institutions involved.
He says while there was provision for the Office of the Public Defender to intervene in the matter, he suggested that this issue more appropriately fell under the purview of the Office of the Children’s Advocate, which is mandated to promote the best interests of children and to protect and enforce their rights.
The Anglican bishop argues that the release of The Public Defender’s report was premature, as the recommendation for reinstatement of the head girl was made public without allowing the school’s Board of Management the opportunity to deliberate on the matter and before due process was exhausted.
In defending the faith principles upheld by St. Hilda’s, Bishop Gregory asserted that like other institutions founded by religious communities, the school has a right to maintain an ethos and tradition consistent with its faith principles.
He points out that like all Anglican schools, St. Hilda’s has an inclusive policy regarding the admission of students and does not discriminate against prospective students on the basis of religion.
Bishop Gregory commends the board of management and the St. Hilda’s administration on upholding the integrity of the institution and resolving the disputed issue, which he said trial in the public media would only have complicated and prolonged.