XN000022-1978-05-14 — Page 2

SUNDAY, MAY 14, 197

CLOSURE OF PRECIOUS ELOOD GOLDEN JUBILEE SECONDARY SCHOOL

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THE ACTING DIRECTOR OF EDUCATION, FR. COLVYN HAYE, HAS DECIDED TO CLOSE THE PRECIOUS ELOOD GOLDEN JUBILEE SECONDARY SCHOOL UTIL

LOLOT 3: 1978. FORMAL NOTICE TO THIS EFFECT WAS SERVED O: THE JUPERVIZCA, THE REV. SISTER LOPRAINE TURCOTTE, AT 4 P.M. TODAY.

+ IT IS WITH REGRET THAT, AFTER THE MOST CAREFUL CONSIDERATIC., I HAVE REACHED THIS DECISION,+ MR. HAYE SAID. +BUT I AM ENTIRELY SATISFIED THAT MY DECISION IS IN THE INTEREST OF THE PROPER CONDUCT OF EDUCATION GENERALLY IN HONG KONG, AND IN THE LONG-TERM INTEREST OF THE PUPILS OF THE SCHOOL - BOTH THOSE WHOSE MISGUIDED BEHAVIOUF UNDER IRRESPONSIBLE ADULT INFLUENCES HAS CONTRIBUTED TO MY DECISI AND THOSE WHO HAVE ONLY WANTED TO PURSUE THEIR SCHOOL LIFE I'A VORPAL WAY AND WHO THEREFORE HAVE SADLY BEEN THE VICTIMS OF THE GROSS MISCONDUCT OF OTHERS, HE ADDED.

-P. HAYE SAID THAT HE AND HIS SENIOR STAFF HAD MADE A CLOSE STUDY OF RECENT DEVELOPMENTS AT THE SCHOOL AND IN PARTICULAR THE EVE.TO OF THE LAST FEW DAYS WHICH HAD CALLED FOR INSPECTORS' VISITS. THIS STUDY, HOURLY REPORTS FRCH THE SCHOOL AND FIRST HAND OBSERVATION BY SENIOR INSPECTORS HAD CONVINCED HIM THAT THE MASSIVE DISRUPTION OF STUDIES AT PRECIOUS ELOOD GOLDEN JUBILEE SECONDARY SCHOOL WOULD CONTINUE. THE ADAMANT REFUSAL OF A NUMBER OF MILITANT TEACHERS, WHO HAD BEEN LEADING THE DEMONSTRATIONS OF HUNDREDS OF MISGUIDED STUDENTS, TO ACCEPT THE AUTHORITY OF THE SCHOOL MADE IT IMPOSSIBLE FOR THE SCHOOL TO CONTINUE AS IT SHOULD FOR THE LITTLE THAT WAS LEFT OF THE ACADEMIC YEAR. THE TEACHERS AND STUDENTS HAD PROVED THIS BY ABSENTING THEMSELVES FROM THE SCHOOL DURING THE WEEK TO PARADE AND DEMONSTRATE, AND, CA THE IF RETUPA TO THE SCHOOL ON FRIDAY (MAY 12) BY FURTHER DEMONSTRATIONS ON THE SCHOOL PREMISES.

+THERE IS NO EVIDENCE WHATSOEVER THAT THE TEACHERS AND STUDE T. IN DEFIANCE OF SCHOOL AUTHORITY EAL TO ABANDON THEIR CAMPAIGN OF LTIMILATION AT THE SCHOOL,+ HR. HAYE SAID. +THIS HAS BEEN NOTED EY CLOSE OBSERVERS, CONFIRMED PY PRESS REPORTS OF TEACHERS' STATEMENTS AND BY THEIR MOST RECENT ACTIONS.+

MR. HAYE EMPHASISED THAT THE FACTS WERE CLEAR. STUDENTS MAC CEEN ENCOURAGED BY A GROUP OF TEACHERS TO DEFY SCHOOL AUTHORITY. PHYSICAL TIIDATION AND ABUSE OF THE PRINCIPAL AND HER DEPUTY HAD LED TO THE SUSPENSION AND WARNING OF RING LEADERS. TEACHERS HAI THEN LED STUDENTS IN MARCHES AND DEMONSTRATIONS DEMAND ING THE WITHDRAWAL OF SUSPENSIONS AND ARMINGS AND THE DISMISSAL OF THE PRINCIPAL. TEACHERS AND STUDENTS DECLARED THAT THEY WOULD RETURN TC SCHOOL, BUT HAD MADE IT CLEAR THAT THEY HAD NOT DROPPED THEIR DEMANDS EY IMMEDIATE CONFRONTATION OF THE SCHOOL AUTHORITIES.

/MOREOVER,