Baldwin teachers targeted for protesting say parents, alumni

The Baldwin Group of Institutions is in the news for wrong reasons again as a group of old students and parents say that teachers are being targeted and bullied for taking part in protests against the management.

A group of former students of Baldwin schools, parents and citizens, gathered at Richmond Town Park on Sunday morning for a silent protest.

According to them, following protests in the girls, boys and RR Nagar schools, several teachers who were at the forefront have been targeted.

“Nine of them were served show-cause notices, asking why disciplinary action should not be taken against them. A 14-member enquiry committee has been bullying them. Orders have been issued to transfer two teachers to Raichur and Kolar with immediate effect,” one of the protestors said.

Somdev Chaudhari, a protesting parent, said,  “We are concerned about the breakdown of peace at the institution. Teachers have the democratic right to protest and they did so peacefully. Now the management is bullying them with gruelling enquiries.”

The management, however, has a completely different take on the issue.

“We have Baldwin schools in Kolar and Raichur which need to be developed. Whenever the management feels that it is necessary they can transfer teachers for development of those institutions. It is not related to the protests by the teachers,” said Reverend David Nathaniel, secretary of the Baldwin Society.

On the show-cause notices, Nathaniel said that it was the prerogative of the school’s principal and manager.

The principal of Baldwin Boys’ High School had also sent a message saying that members of the school were directed not to take part in any kind of protest or demonstration against the school management inside the school premises or outside.  However, Nathaniel said that this was to ensure that classes and students should not be affected. They can protest after school hours, he said.