TNAG-0799-FCO40-1003-Dispute-over-closure-of-Precious-Blood-Golden-Jubilee-Second-1978 — Page 90

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to confirm the fears of the authorities. It should be

appreciated, however, that probably all the teachers at the

time felt that they had a justifiable grievance against the

new contract and were upset by the financial irregularities

disclosed.

33.

Although purportedly the students claimed that the sit-in was to demand a full and satisfactory explanation

and disclosure of financial irregularities, it seems clear

to us that this action (which took place one day before the

signed contracts were due to be returned to the School Management) was also related to the question of the new contract for the teachers. It was put to the Committee

that the sit-in was an entirely spontaneous act of the students. Whilst there was no evidence of overt instigation or leader-

ship from the teachers, tacit encouragement there must have been, at least from some teachers, bearing in mind the close relationship between students and teachers. Considering the students' attitude towards questioning of authority, as well as their capability and experience in organising large scale activities, we have every reason to believe that the students, or at least their leaders, had initiated the sit-in largely by themselves but the teachers cannot be totally dissociated from such an action. We feel that the teachers had failed in their duties in not trying to discourage the students from disrupting classes. Indeed, most of them eventually joined their students. There were, of course, a number of extenuating circumstances: they were unhappy over the School's financial mismanagement and upset over their new contract, and most of them were relatively young and understandably impetuous.

As a result of the perceived role of the teachers in the sit-in, the School Management and the Education Department at this

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