Latest news with #schoolprincipal
Yahoo
10-07-2025
- Yahoo
Two arrested after school girls in India allegedly made to strip for period check
A school principal and an attendant have been arrested in India after allegations that female students were stripped naked to check if they were menstruating after blood stains were found on a toilet wall. The police action came after the mother of one of the "10 to 15 girls" who were put through the alleged humiliation lodged a complaint. The incident took place on Tuesday in a village not far from Mumbai city. On Wednesday, parents protested at the school, demanding strict punishment against the authorities. In a video, the school principal is seen arguing with angry parents - she denies that she ordered a strip-search or that it took place. Senior police official Milind Shinde told the BBC on Thursday that they were investigating the allegations. The arrested women would be produced in court later in the day, he said. The police complaint names four other teachers and two trustees of the all-girls school in Thane in the western state of Maharashtra. BBC has reached out to the school authorities for a response. In their complaint, police have invoked sections of the law that deal with assault and intent to outrage modesty of women. They have also added sections from the stringent Pocso (Protection of Children from Sexual Offences) Act. The parents have alleged that all the students from 5th to 10th classes - who would be between the ages of 10 and 16 - were summoned to a hall by the school principal on Tuesday. There, they were shown photos from the toilet on a projector, including that of a hand stain, and those who had their periods were asked to raise their hands. A teacher collected hand prints of all those who did. At least 10 to 15 girls who said they weren't menstruating were then taken to the toilet, forced to strip and went through an inspection. The child whose mother lodged the police complaint has alleged that her daughter, who didn't have her period, was scolded and asked why she wasn't wearing a sanitary pad. Her hand print was also collected. She said her daughter "felt very ashamed" because of what had happened. Some of the parents told the BBC that their daughters were traumatised. "The incident raises serious questions about the safety of our children. Our girls are very afraid. The government should take strict action against the school," one parent said. The mother of one of the students told BBC Marathi that when confronted, the principal denied everything. "But the school didn't have an answer when we asked them whether so many girls could be lying," she said. Banished for bleeding: Tribal women get better period huts Why are Indian women 'Happy to Bleed'? Why are menstruating women removing their wombs? Periods have long been a taboo in India where menstruating girls and women are considered impure and excluded from social and religious events. And incidents of shaming female students have been reported in the past too. In 2017, 70 students were stripped naked at a residential school in Uttar Pradesh by the female warden after she found blood on a bathroom door. In 2020, 68 students living in a college hostel in Gujarat were strip-searched after they stopped reporting their periods to authorities to avoid restrictions which barred them from entering the temple and the kitchen or touching other students. At meal times, they had to sit away from others, and in the classroom, they were expected to sit on the last bench. The regressive ideas are being increasingly challenged by urban educated women, but success has been patchy and women in many parts of the country continue to face discrimination.
BBC News
10-07-2025
- BBC News
Thane, Maharashtra: Two arrested after school girls allegedly made to strip for period check
A school principal and an attendant have been arrested in India after allegations that female students were stripped naked to check if they were menstruating after blood stains were found on a toilet police action came after the mother of one of the "10 to 15 girls" who were put through the alleged humiliation lodged a incident took place on Tuesday in a village not far from Mumbai city. On Wednesday, parents protested at the school, demanding strict punishment against the a video, the school principal is seen arguing with angry parents - she denies that she ordered a strip-search or that it took place. Senior police official Milind Shinde told the BBC on Thursday that they were investigating the allegations. The arrested women would be produced in court later in the day, he police complaint names four other teachers and two trustees of the all-girls school in Thane in the western state of Maharashtra. BBC has reached out to the school authorities for a their complaint, police have invoked sections of the law that deal with assault and intent to outrage modesty of women. They have also added sections from the stringent Pocso (Protection of Children from Sexual Offences) parents have alleged that all the students from 5th to 10th classes - who would be between the ages of 10 and 16 - were summoned to a hall by the school principal on they were shown photos from the toilet on a projector, including that of a hand stain, and those who had their periods were asked to raise their hands. A teacher collected hand prints of all those who least 10 to 15 girls who said they weren't menstruating were then taken to the toilet, forced to strip and went through an child whose mother lodged the police complaint has alleged that her daughter, who didn't have her period, was scolded and asked why she wasn't wearing a sanitary pad. Her hand print was also said her daughter "felt very ashamed" because of what had happened. Some of the parents told the BBC that their daughters were traumatised. "The incident raises serious questions about the safety of our children. Our girls are very afraid. The government should take strict action against the school," one parent mother of one of the students told BBC Marathi that when confronted, the principal denied everything. "But the school didn't have an answer when we asked them whether so many girls could be lying," she for bleeding: Tribal women get better period hutsWhy are Indian women 'Happy to Bleed'?Why are menstruating women removing their wombs?Periods have long been a taboo in India where menstruating girls and women are considered impure and excluded from social and religious incidents of shaming female students have been reported in the past 2017, 70 students were stripped naked at a residential school in Uttar Pradesh by the female warden after she found blood on a bathroom 2020, 68 students living in a college hostel in Gujarat were strip-searched after they stopped reporting their periods to authorities to avoid restrictions which barred them from entering the temple and the kitchen or touching other meal times, they had to sit away from others, and in the classroom, they were expected to sit on the last regressive ideas are being increasingly challenged by urban educated women, but success has been patchy and women in many parts of the country continue to face discrimination.
Irish Times
24-06-2025
- Irish Times
Principal of school in Blackrock, Dublin, given further 16 months for indecent assault charges
A former school principal jailed for indecently assaulting two students has been told he will spend a further 16 months in prison for indecently assaulting another four boys. Aidan Clohessy (85) was jailed for four years on Monday for indecently assaulting two boys in the 1980s. He was convicted of 19 counts of indecent assault in relation to six boys following two separate trials at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court last month. On Tuesday, Judge Martin Nolan imposed sentence in relation to the second trial, in which Clohessy was convicted of five counts of indecently assaulting four boys. READ MORE Two of these counts of indecent assault related to one boy, with one count each in relation to the other three boys. All of these offences took place between 1969 and 1986. Clohessy was acquitted of three further counts of indecent assault. After hearing facts on Monday, Judge Nolan adjourned the case overnight to consider sentence and the defence's submission in relation to the totality principle. Judge Nolan said the indecent assaults were 'undoubtedly very serious' for the injured parties, noting that many of the incidents described were 'obviously physical chastisement as well'. He said the aggravating features included that Clohessy was in a position of trust which he betrayed. The judge also noted that the injured parties were vulnerable and said Clohessy 'took advantage of their vulnerability'. He said there was some 'small mitigation', including Clohessy's age. Judge Nolan said if this was a stand-alone trial, and Clohessy was younger, he would impose a sentence of between three and four years. But, the judge said the court had to take into account the totality principle and that Clohessy is already serving a sentence. He imposed a 16-month sentence, which is to run consecutive to the four-year sentence imposed on Monday. This means Clohessy has received a sentence of five years and four months for his offending against the six injured parties. A member of the Order of St John of God, Clohessy was the principal of St Augustine's School, Blackrock, Co Dublin, from the early 1970s until 1993, when he was appointed to lead a mission in Malawi. Clohessy, with an address at the Hospitaller Order of St John of God, Granada, Stillorgan, Co Dublin, voluntarily returned to Ireland in 2013. The six boys were all pupils of the school. Some were boarders at the school, which catered for boys with mild to moderate learning disability at that time. The injured parties were aged between 10 and 13 when Clohessy's offending took place. The abuse primarily took the form of inappropriate touching, the court heard. In the first trial, Clohessy was convicted of 14 counts of indecent assault – 10 in relation to one boy and four in relation to a second boy on dates between 1983 and 1985. The court heard that some of the complainants had no objection to being identified.
BreakingNews.ie
24-06-2025
- BreakingNews.ie
Former school principal receives more jail time for indecently assaulting students
A former school principal jailed for indecently assaulting two students has been told he will spend a further 16 months in prison for indecent assaulting another four boys. Aidan Clohessy (85) was jailed on Mondays for four years for indecently assaulting two boys in the 1980s. Advertisement He was convicted of 19 counts of indecent assault in relation to six boys following two separate trials at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court last month. On Tuesday, Judge Martin Nolan imposed sentence in relation to the second trial, in which Clohessy was convicted of five counts of indecently assaulting four boys. Two of these counts of indecent assault related to one boy, with one count each in relation to the other three boys. All of this offending took place between 1969 and 1986. Clohessy was acquitted of three further counts of indecent assault. After hearing facts on Monday, Judge Nolan adjourned the case overnight to consider sentence and the defence's submission in relation to the totality principle. Advertisement Judge Nolan said the indecent assaults were 'undoubtedly very serious' for the injured parties, noting that many of the incidents described were 'obviously physical chastisement as well'. He said the aggravating features included that Clohessy was in a position of trust which he betrayed. The judge also noted that the injured parties were vulnerable and said Clohessy 'took advantage of their vulnerability'. He said there was some 'small mitigation', including Clohessy's age. Judge Nolan said if this was a standalone trial, and Clohessy was younger, he would impose a sentence of between three and four years. Advertisement But, the judge said the court had to take into account the totality principle and that Clohessy is already serving a sentence. He imposed a 16-month sentence, which is to run consecutive to the four year sentence imposed on Monday. This means Clohessy's has received a global sentence of five years and four months for his offending against the six injured parties. A member of the Order of St John of God, Clohessy was the principal of St Augustine's School, Blackrock, Co. Dublin from the early 1970s until 1993, when he was appointed to lead a mission in Malawi. Clohessy, with an address at the Hospitaller Order of St John of God, Granada, Stillorgan, Co. Dublin, voluntarily returned to Ireland in 2013. Advertisement The six boys were all pupils of the school. Some were boarders at the school, which catered for boys with mild to moderate learning disability at that time. The injured parties were aged between 10 and 13 when Clohessy's offending took place. The abuse primarily took the form of inappropriate touching, the court heard. In the first trial, Clohessy was convicted of 14 counts of indecent assault - 10 in relation to one boy and four in relation to a second boy on dates between 1983 and 1985. The court heard that some of the complainants had no objection to being identified. Advertisement Mr Clohessy was handed a sentence of four years in relation to the offending against these two injured parties. Imposing sentence on Monday, Judge Elva Duffy said Clohessy was 'living a life full of good deeds during the day', but was also 'an ogre' who carried out 'what can only be described as atrocities at night time, when no one could see that behaviour'. Victim impact statements were read to the court on behalf of all six injured parties during the two separate sentence hearings. They outlined how the abuse affected the men's mental health, relationships, education and later employment opportunities. In a statement read by his wife to the court, Gerard Quinn addressed Clohessy directly. 'Brother Aidan, I don't forgive you but I don't judge you anymore. That responsibility does not belong to me. 'One day, you will stand before the man you chose to serve. One day, you will stand before your maker, and on that day, you will be handed your judgement.' Another man said he struggled to learn his wedding vows or to read his children a story. Clohessy denied wrongdoing when interviewed voluntarily by gardaí, but acknowledged that corporal punishment was used in the school, including by him. He told gardaí this included striking boys on their bare buttocks, but said this was only for the most serious offences and only of those boys who were residents at the school. The investigating gardaí agreed with Ronan Kennedy SC, defending, that his client was co-operative during the investigation and has been subject to adverse publicity. Mr Kennedy said Clohessy lives 'a humble and quiet existence' and supports other members of the religious community who have significant health issues. Ireland Jury watches CCTV footage of moment man is fatally... Read More A medical report and two testimonials were handed to the court on Clohessy's behalf. Mr Kennedy asked the court to take into account his client will find custody more difficult due to his age and health issues. He submitted that his client would have to live with the stigma of being a sex offender and has already been subject to negative publicity. 'In many respects, he was already condemned and judged in the court of public opinion before he was ever tried in this court,' Mr Kennedy said.
Yahoo
21-06-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Parents call on N.W.T. education minister to remove Fort Simpson elementary school principal
Parents in Fort Simpson, N.W.T., are calling on the territorial government to permanently remove the principal of the local elementary school. The parents, some of whom are elected members of the community's District Education Authority (DEA), met with the N.W.T. education minister earlier this month to list their concerns with Łı̨́ı̨́dĺ̨ı̨́ı̨́ Kų́ę́ Elementary School principal Benjamin Adams. The concerns include a lack of communication, unreliability and an unhealthy school environment that they allege is failing their children. Adams declined an interview request due to "internal processes and confidentiality." On Wednesday, the day after the request, Adams sent an email to school staff informing them he would be on leave for the remainder of the year. Dehcho Divisional Education Council (DDEC) superintendent Donna Miller Fry wrote in an email to CBC News on June 19 that Adams is still the principal of the school, but there is an acting principal while he is away. Parents who spoke with CBC said the Fort Simpson DEA met with Education Minister Caitlin Cleveland on June 6 to discuss the issues, which is when they called for Adams' removal. Parents spoke with CBC in the days leading up to Friday's announcement from the government of sweeping investigations into the DDEC's and Dehcho DEAs' governance, finances and human resource issues. Shawna McLeod, a Fort Simpson parent and DEA member, delivered a speech to Cleveland and provided a written statement that detailed various incidents involving several parents and students. The letter says Adams' behaviour reveals "a disturbing pattern of neglect, exclusion, dishonesty and emotional harm." One example includes a neurodiverse child whose mother felt they weren't properly supported. There were also concerns about how a teacher was treating the child. The letter says Adams didn't properly address the concerns with the teacher. A former staff member and parent was also quoted in the letter as saying the education system in Fort Simpson is "crumbling." That person described a toxic work environment, with a lack of support for students and inconsistent leadership. McLeod said she decided to pull her daughter from the school and is not the only one to do so. McLeod and another parent who spoke to CBC said they think Adams has retaliated against children whose parents have spoken out about his shortcomings, by not allowing them to attend extracurricular activities. Adams' bio on the education council's website, which was removed June 18, said he is from Newfoundland and spent time working in that province, as well as in Nunavut and Manitoba. It said he worked as the Fort Simpson high school principal before moving over to the elementary school. He was listed as the elementary school principal on the school's website sometime in 2022. CBC News obtained a copy of the letter presented to the minister and reached out to McLeod to independently confirm that she had written it. CBC also reached out to some of the parents named in the letter. One parent, Mary Masuzumi, said Adams called her to the school last year after her son, who is non-verbal, demonstrated with his hands that he was hit by someone. Masuzumi said Adams told her a teacher had backhanded her son to the floor. Later, she said, he denied ever making that statement. Rylan Hardisty-Gillis and Jerri Brenton said they have a daughter who attended the school. They ended up homeschooling her due to issues with a teacher, but registered her in a couple classes. They said they were told by Adams that their daughter could still use the school facilities and receive support from the school, which is also required under territorial legislation. But over the course of the year, their daughter wasn't allowed to participate in multiple school events and extracurricular activities. The parents said when they asked Adams about why she couldn't participate, he said he didn't know anything about the rules around homeschooled students using school facilities. Another parent, Brendan Whelly, said he was emailing Adams to ask about the plan to get a permanent teacher for the school's kindergarten class. He said getting a response from Adams about the vacant position sometimes took weeks. Whelly said Adams suddenly ended their communications, writing that he sensed "a level of hostility, threat and aggression." CBC News reviewed the email thread in question and it did not appear to include any threats or aggression. CBC emailed Adams about each individual concern raised by the parents; he did not provide a response by deadline. The Dehcho Divisional Education Council superintendent, Donna Miller Fry, told CBC in an email that she couldn't speak due to privacy concerns and confidentiality regulations. CBC News was unable to reach the DDEC's trustees for comment. CBC reached out to Cleveland earlier in the week for an interview about the situation. Sameeksha Dandriyal, a spokesperson for Cleveland, responded by email that the minister "is aware of the concerns raised and, as with all concerns expressed by residents, takes them seriously." "The minister has been engaging with partners in the education system in the Dehcho region to listen and better understand the situation," Dandriyal wrote. Late Friday afternoon, Cleveland issued a media statement announcing a series of investigations into the DDEC and the Dehcho region's DEAs. An independent investigator will review those education bodies; the government has launched a financial review of them; and the Finance department will do a human resources investigation. In that statement, Cleveland referred to a range of concerns from community members about the situation. "I understand many residents want to see action, and I share that sense of urgency," Cleveland wrote. "I also recognize that for some families—particularly Indigenous families still living with the intergenerational impacts of residential schools— these situations can be especially difficult. That's why this work must be carried out with care, fairness, and respect." In Adams' email to staff on June 17, he wrote there would be an acting principal in his place. In a Facebook post to parents, he wrote he would be "working from afar and periodically at the school."
