Petition against principal’s suspension

The duration of Dr Horn’s suspension is 90 days.

She was suspended in connection with racial discrimination at the school.

The petition was initially started on November 27, by a few former Wordsworth High School pupils.

According Shaun Bartlett, one of the people who started the campaign, the main aim of the project is for Horn to be treated fairly and reinstated as principle of the school.

“As an ex-pupil of Wordsworth High and one of Dr Horn’s Afrikaans pupils, I felt that she was being targeted by a few unhappy learners who did not want to follow the rules; and because she was tough with them and did not take their ill-discipline lightly, the race card was unfairly used to get her suspended and face disciplinary action,” he said.

He added the he felt that she needs support in her efforts to make sure that the youth are well educated, disciplined and, most of all, employable when they leave school.

“I don’t think it was fair of the department to suspend her without making sure that the facts presented were correct,” he said.

“We all know how long these ‘independent’ investigations can take and the longer Dr Horn is kept from the school the more damage it does to her reputation, and the pupils will eventually be the ones to lose out on a great principal.

“If she has transgressed any code of conduct and is found guilty of doing so then the department can discipline her accordingly.

“The petition is not so much about the number of signatures, but rather about the education department taking notice of the impact that Dr Horn has had on so many lives.”

Bartlett added that, during the new year, the petition will be taken to the Department of Education.

“How many teachers today still care enough for our children to tell them honestly that they stink?” he asked.

He added that he was scolded by Horn for much worse than that during his schooling career.

“I felt the same way that these girls are feeling now, but the criticism and honesty with which she dealt with it made sure I took notice.

“The question that really needs to be answered is: if Dr Horn was racist, why is it that it has taken 20 years since the democracy for her racist attitude to show itself?

“There is a big difference between being a tough principal and being a racist.

“Personally, I think the problem has been blown out of proportion and that it could easily be resolved by having all the interested parties sit around the table and discuss the disciplinary problems being experienced in the school.”

“This process is governed by the Labour Relations Act and the Employment of Educator’s Act,” said Gauteng Department of Education spokesperson Phumla Sekhonyane.

“We will not be influenced by any external factors outside of the legal environment and due process, therefore the petition has no bearing on the case and will not influence the department’s position.”

She added that they anticipate that the investigation should be finalised before the end of January, 2014.

“The outcome of the investigation will determine the department’s action,” concluded Sekhonyane.