There is a scene from Ben Hur, when Charlton Heston stands over Massala after the race, believing the enmity is all over, and then come the famous words: “It isn’t over...The race goes on...”.

And so the race goes on with Ninu Cremona School, Gozo. It is ironic that the Romans held races in arenas called “the circus” – because that’s what Ninu Cremona has become: a three-ring circus! But even a circus becomes boring after a while, yet the media still cries out: “Let the show go on!”

First, there was it-Torca, which carried an article claiming that teachers were forcefully persuaded to attend a meeting by the school head, and the teachers are now demoralised. A total of 113 teachers signed a petition and sent it to it-Torca, negating the article’s contents, and were therefore shocked to see it-Torca’s article that a petition was sent, signed by 18 out of 100 teachers, claiming that signatures were gathered by a persistent teacher and demanded the names of the doctors who issued certificates to the sickie-scandal teachers (an issue raised and settled in parliament!) it-Torca writes as if it were present at the signing of the petition, and since it wasn’t, the only logical conclusion is that it was an informant. Everyone has the right to express him/herself but not when it comes to lies! Let’s make a deal: the teachers concerned will give you the names of the doctors if you give us the name of the person providing you with misinformation. Those 113 teachers willingly signed the petition and to insist otherwise, without proof or any attempt at verification, smacks of a conspiracy!

All this negative publicity is putting undue pressure on the teachers, who already have enough job-related pressure! Think of the students if no one else. What students definitely do not need is a stressed-out teacher. What’s next in Malta? Killing a teacher for not giving high marks, as is happening elsewhere? If the media and a section of society and the Ministry of Education do not show us respect, then what are we to expect from students? The Ministry still has not corrected its statement about teachers’ wages. Why the lies? Mr Sciavone’s answer was a confirmation of what I said – and he hasn’t written since.

So let’s put a stop to what amounts to harassment. Let the Christian spirit reign this Lent and let’s be satisfied with the punishments already meted out to erring teachers. Let’s not cry for more: Crucify! Crucify! (It’s ironic; Jesus was a teacher in a way! Gee, teachers have been persecuted for a long, long time!)

Joe Falzon

QALA