Headmaster suspended; students, parents block road

Parents claim that he was punctual to school and regular in taking classes

School students and parents blocking road at Vadakatupatti near Dindigul on Wednesday, in protest against the suspension of their school headmaster.

More than 100 schoolchildren boycotted classes and blocked Viralipatti Main Road in front of Perarignanar Anna Centenary New Middle School at Vadakattupatti village in Sanarpatti union on Wednesday, in protest against the suspension of the school headmaster, M. John Peter.

The parents too joined them and did not allow them to go to school. Traffic on the road was disrupted for some time.

The parents and the villagers demanded that the Department of School Education should immediately withdraw the suspension order issued to Mr. John Peter, failing which they would not send their children to the school and apply for transfer certificate en masse on Thursday.

The department served the suspension order on the headmaster on Tuesday, stating that he was irregular in attending the school.

But the parents, teachers and the students said he was very punctual and regular in coming to the school and taking classes. He even spent his leisure period to raise trees on the school campus, said D. Velankanni of Vadakattupatti.

Mr. John Peter was instrumental in constructing three buildings for additional classrooms in the school and also buildings in government schools at Viralipatti and Karikalkulam near Thavasimadai in Sanarpatti union.

He even administered first aid to students who suffered injuries in the school, said Celin Rani, mother of a student.

The six teachers of the school reported for duty in the morning. Noon meal was also prepared for the children. But all the 131 students blocked the road till afternoon, and then went home.

Sources said “union activities” of the headmaster led to his suspension. He had won the best teacher award from the State government a few years ago.

Villagers up in arms

Residents of Malaipatti blocked Natham-Dindigul Main Road on Wednesday, protesting against the transfer and posting of a government teacher to the school in the village.

The parents of the schoolchildren also joined the stir.

They alleged that a teacher was transferred to the school from S. Pudhupatti Government Primary School as “punishment transfer.”

The villagers said the school in the village should not be treated as a punishment centre.

School Education Department officials assured the agitators that the teacher would not join duty in the school. Instead, another teacher would be appointed there, they said. Later, the agitation was withdrawn.