By Kimone Witter
Principal of George Headley Primary, Aretha Willie, is denying media reports that a student soiled herself after a teacher refused her repeated requests to use the restroom on Monday.
Mrs. Willie says she is disappointed with the reporting, which she has called biased and unverified.
She contends that it was based solely on the father’s account, without the leadership of the school being contacted to verify the allegation or provide its side of the matter.
The principal says the Grade 5 student’s first request to use the restroom came shortly after the class returned from recess, which ends at 10:30 a.m.
The request was denied based on the school’s protocols on restroom visits.
Mrs. Willie says the second request was granted after the student explained that she was having abdominal pains.
She says, after the child left the classroom, a member of the janitorial staff informed the teacher that the student had an accident and the parents should be notified.
The principal says this was done and stressed that the accident did not occur in the classroom as was reported.
She says the child was attended to by a member of staff, who helped with the purchase of a rag and underclothes.
Mrs. Willie has denied that child was placed under a staircase, adding that at no time was the situation highlighted within the school community.
She says, to date, the child’s father has not made a request to have dialogue with her or the Vice Principals.
The Ministry of Education is investigating the matter.