The Nassau Guardian
Anatol Rodgers principal dismisses BUT’s claims
Anatol Rodgers High School Principal Myrtle McPhee said yesterday that despite the Bahamas Union of Teachers’ (BUT) call for her removal, she will not allow anyone or anything to distract her from her vision for the school.
It is the first time the principal has spoken publicly about the controversy surrounding the school.
McPhee, who has been in the teaching profession for nearly 40 years, has faced criticisms from the union for several months.
But the Ministry of Education has said she will remain in her post.
In an interview at the school on Faith Avenue, McPhee called the “noise in the market” interesting, but said she does not see the need to defend the truth.
“The truth will speak for itself, and the minister of education as well as the director of education spoke to the issues,” McPhee said.
“I was quite confident that what we do here at this quality institution speaks for itself in terms of all of our accomplishments.
“I know there was a lot of noise in the market, but it did not prevent the normal activities from going on. We had peace and quiet.”
In February, BUT President Belinda Wilson and some parents and teachers at Anatol Rodgers called for McPhee’s resignation.
Tensions between the union and the Ministry of Education came to a head and the school was forced to close temporarily.
At the start of the new school year, some teachers sat outside their classrooms and joined union officials in a protest outside the Ministry of Education.
McPhee noted that only about 15 out of the 93 teachers at the school participated, which she said speaks volumes. She said the school has quality teachers committed to producing quality students.
The principal noted Anatol Rodgers is the largest school in the country with 1,400 students. At least 50 of them have varying disabilities.
It is one of two “comprehensive” public schools — it has both junior and senior high students. Those junior and senior students were separated recently, a move McPhee said is significant.
In response to the BUT’s claims that she has created a “hostile environment” and her leadership style is not effective, McPhee said, “I am quite aware of the human element in every organization.
“Human beings are our most important resource. I am very sensitive to them in terms of what I say, and how I say it.
“But the job has to be done according to the standards set down by the Ministry of Education.”
McPhee touted the school’s achievements, including a group of pre-engineering students, who won the build-a-bridge competition this year. The competition required students to team up within their schools and build the strongest and most beautiful bridge with just 100 popsicle sticks and Elmer's glue.
McPhee said the school is also proud of its many other successes.
She noted that the school has consistently seen well above 50 percent of its students who sit national examinations, pass with grades A through D.
Asked how she would describe her relationship with parents and teachers, McPhee responded, “Professional”.
Parent Teacher Association (PTA) President Rena Hudson said last week the principal does not have the support of parents, whose major concern is violence on campus.
But McPhee said whenever there are large groups of students from varied backgrounds there is bound to be some conflict.
“I want to say that the fights are contained to about 15 percent of the total population,” she said.
“That leaves 85 percent of our students who do not engage in fights. To me, that is very significant.
“But for some reason only the 15 percent are highlighted. That is really an injustice.”
McPhee admitted there are some challenges with meeting the needs of all students, but she said despite those challenges she is passionate about her role and has not lost her love for teaching.
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