Tue May 21 17:12:50 SAST 2013
Tue May 21 17:12:50 SAST 2013

School love tryst ends in expulsion

May 3, 2012 | Zandile Mbabela | 21 comments

A MATRIC pupil who was expelled from a posh private girls’ school for “bunking out” and visiting her boyfriend late at night has lost a court application to have the action reversed.

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The pupil and her parents sought relief from the Grahamstown High Court to allow her to attend the Diocesan School for Girls – although not as a boarder.

The pupil – said to be suffering from depression and feeling suicidal – was expelled after she left her hostel to seek comfort from her boyfriend at St Andrew’s College.

She underwent an internal disciplinary hearing after she sneaked out of her hostel at around 11.30pm through a fire escape door – which she had left open – crossed a school field, climbed a 2-metre wall and entered St Andrew’s.

She punched in a security code to gain entry.

To confuse DSG staff, she left a teddy bear in her bed to make them believe she was still sleeping.

Her absence was discovered after the house mistress noticed that the fire escape door was open.

When it was discovered the pupil was not in bed, she was sent a cellphone message ordering her to return to her room immediately.

She was found hiding in her boyfriend’s room at about 1.30am.

The pupil – who had previously had an "unblemished” school record – faced charges of serious misconduct. These were that she:

- Put herself and the "sustainability of the school” at risk;

- Compromised the safety of the house by leaving a fire door open;

- Entered St Andrew’s boarding house, where she was discovered in a boy’s room.

In court proceedings challenging the expulsion, it emerged the pupil suffered from psychological issues.

At the time, she needed to get away as she felt like killing herself.

Delivering judgment this week, Judge Judith Roberson said when the pupil enrolled at the school, she and her parents had agreed to abide by rules and policies. These covered serious misconduct – including bunking out of hostel.

Roberson said the tribunal’s decision had considered the interests of both the pupil and the school, as well as the offence itself.

"It did not ignore the fact that [she] was in her matric year, her emotional state, her contributions to the school or her unblemished record,” the judge said.

"It did not lose sight of the fact that she is a young person, and alluded to the fact that the members of the tribunal all have children of their own. [She] put herself and other girls in danger and betrayed the trust of DSG and her parents.

"The tribunal was correct to view these factors in a serious light, and to consider their broader implications.

"The tribunal did not overlook lesser sanctions and ... was of the view that they would not teach [her] the lesson she had to learn, namely responsibility towards the community.”

The boyfriend was issued with a final written warning and suspended from St Andrew’s.

Source: PE Herald

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Comments

Tue May 21 17:12:50 SAST 2013 ::
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May 3, 2012

Pointman

I agree with the harsh action but they should have extended it to the boyfriend as well. The depression and suicidal story is nonsense to gain some sympathy. I hope the education department does not do some dum@b thing like suspending the schools principal.
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May 3, 2012

zaco'z

eish! crap..
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May 3, 2012

iPhone4

The parents actually supported her to take the school to court? What were they thinking?
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May 3, 2012

WordofGod

She underwent an internal disciplinary hearing after she sneaked out of her hostel at around 11.30pm through a fire escape door – which she had left open – crossed a school field, climbed a 2-metre wall and entered St Andrew’s.

She punched in a security code to gain entry.

To confuse DSG staff, she left a teddy bear in her bed to make them believe she was still sleeping.
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u watch too much movies neh!!!
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May 3, 2012

sakhomba

p.o.l.o enele monate mos. she climbed 2 metre wall(spiderwoman) and crossed a whole moer.se school field.
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May 3, 2012

MsKinkyakaKamaSutra

She underwent an internal disciplinary hearing after she sneaked out of her hostel at around 11.30pm through a fire escape door – which she had left open – crossed a school field, climbed a 2-metre wall and entered St Andrew’s.
She punched in a security code to gain entry.
To confuse DSG staff, she left a teddy bear in her bed to make them believe she was still sleeping.
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Ma.rete the nzw!ri a etsa motho e be McGyver????????? Phew ngwanyana, o ka bea tau setswetse

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May 3, 2012

MorenaWaPolelo

And if we say women are fooolishly weak, unable to think beyond two steps, men can make them do anything, men can make them drop their future, and they will do anything to keep men. They say yah we are sexists and gender insensitive mara ke nnete!!! Now she is depressed and suicidal instead of taking full responsibity for her actions how pathetic little ho...
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May 3, 2012

tumzangwana

the school and the courts are just blowing this out of proportion. she just made a mistake thats all. they must just let the girl go back and finish her matric.
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May 3, 2012

DeCock01

See what women are willing to do for a little bit of DLC...it takes all psychological and emotional problems away....pity it led to this...but the school is putting this girl in a dire situation...trying to make an example of her...wouldnt be surprised if she is bl@ck...
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May 3, 2012

thabsq

Iyooo!!! Umuntu owadala isende wenza into enzima kakhulu. Awubheke nje manje lesiphukuphuku sesiphelelwe ikusasa laso ngenxa nje yomthondo nesende!!!
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    Tue May 21 17:09:38 SAST 2013

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