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4. PROBABLY AS A RESULT OF THE DIRECTOR OF EDUCATION'S REFUSAL TO WITHDRAW THE LETTERS, THERE HAVE RECENTLY BEEN INCREASING AGITATION WITHIN THE SCHOOL, LEADING TO FURTHER DEMONSTRATIONS AND A SIT-IN. THE NEW PRINCIPAL, HER DEPUTY AND THE TEACHERS LOYAL TO THEM, HAVE BEEN HARRASSED AND SUBJECTED TO PHYSICAL INTIMIDATION. THERE HAVE ALSO BEEN DEMONSTRATIONS OF SCHOOL PUPILS OUTSIDE THE CATHOLIC HEADQUARTERS, LED BY THE SIXTEEN TEACHERS WHO HAD EARLIER ASKED FOR THEIR WARNING LETTERS TO BE WITHDRAWN, THE DEMONSTRATORS ARE ACCUSING THE NEW PRINCIPAL OF BEING A FASCISTE AND THE SCHOOL OF BEING CORRUPT. THEY ARE DEMANDING THE PRINCIPAL'S RESIGNATION OR DISMISSAL. HOWEVER
THE REAL INTENTION OF THE DEMONSTRATIONS APPEARS TO BE TO PREVENT
THE CONTRACTS OF THESE SIXTEEN NOT BEING RENEWED.
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5. THE LATEST DEMONSTRATIONS HAVE MADE IT IMPOSSIBLE FOR ANY SCHOOL WORK TO CONTINUE EXCEPT IN ONE FORM (MIDDLE 1). THERE IS
A DANGER OF TROUBLE ESCALATING AND THE WHOLE ORGANISATION OF THE
SCHOOL COLLAPSING UNDER THE STRAIN. THIS IS WHY THE DIRECTOR OF
EDU CATION HAS DECIDED TO ISSUE A CLOSURE ORDER TO ALLOW TIME FOR TEMPERS TO COOL AND THE ORGANISATION OF THE SCHOOL TO BE SORTED OUT, THE MANAGERS OF THE SCHOOL DO NOT INTEND TO RENEW THE CONTRACTS OF THE SIXTEEN TROUBLEMAKERS, AND IT WILL NOT BE APPROPRIATE FOR THE DIRECTOR TO ADVISE AGAINST THIS COURSE.
6. WE EXPECT THE CLOSURE ORDER TO LEAD TO SOME FURTHER DEMONSTRATION.
AND A CONSIDERABLE AMOUNT OF PUBLICITY IN THE PRESS, THE PROFESSIONAL TEACHERS' UNION MAY COMPLAIN THAT THE SIXTEEN ARE BEING UNFAIRLY TREATED. SOME OTHER SCHOOLS MAY JOIN IN. BUT WE DOUBT IF SUPPORT FOR THE SIXTEEN WILL BE WIDESPREAD, BOTH BECAUSE EXAMS ARE NOW ON AND BECAUSE THEIR CAUSE IN ITSELF WILL
MOT BE SEEN BY MANY AS WORTHY OF SUPPORT.
7. THE DIRECTOR OF EDUCATION WILL MAKE A STATEMENT ON 14 MAY EXPLAINING WHY HE HAS DECIDED TO CLOSE THE SCHOOL. WE WILL
TELEGRAPH EXCERPTS SEPARATELY.
MACLEHOSE
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