Today’s headline in the Nation newspaper features the sudden closure of the Drakes Christian School formerly the Elijah At Shiloh Christian School Inc. We must confess that we received the email quoted below from the owners of the school earlier in the week and decided to spend sometime doing some background investigative work. Given our limited resources it has taken more time than we would have preferred but given the release of the story by the Nation newspaper we have decided to counter the sensationalism which Melissa Rock and her counterparts have brought to this story.
In the very long letter which the Drakes submitted to BU they have clearly articulated the issues as they see them. But is there more to this story? Did the Nation reporter Milissa Rock apply the five W’s? Based on our limited investigation we challenge the Nation newspaper that they even applied 3 W’s.
We are concerned that the Nation headline story paints a picture given by a few parents, who are rightly outraged, that their children of special needs will be displaced given the sudden decision to close the school. BU questions the decision by the Drakes to close the school with such a short notice period. We further question the high staff turnover rate which the school has experienced in recent years. Maybe the Nation reporter should have done an interview with some of the teachers who have departed to get a more balanced view. We question why the Nation would break this story and no mention of the letter quoted below is made. We question why several parents have removed their children from the Drakes Christian school after questioning the learning environment which exist at the School. Finally we question why the school would have been closed so soon after sending correspondence to the Prime Ministers Office dated 20 March 2008.
Given the length of the letter we will not add to it but we have a difficulty reconciling many of the issues cited by Drakes in the letter and what is reported in the Nation article. Hopefully the Drakes can come to BU and clarify these issues.
Here is the preamble to the letter received from the principals of Elijah-at-Shiloh Christian School Inc formerly Drake’s Christian School.
Dear friends:
I am going to be sending you by separate cover a letter to the Prime Minister regarding the closure of My School. I built this school from an enrollment of 5 to 72. It is a devastating loss to us and also to the parents of this School. The Powers that be DO NOT WANT effective Special Education for children in Barbados. Those of us in the industry are well aware of that.
The letter to the PM documents the sad story. I am hopeful that you will share it with the Barbadian Public. At this point I have no need to be anonymous. You have full permission to use our names.
Yours truly,
Sydney and Frances Drakes
Founders and Principals
Elijah-at-Shiloh Christian School Inc.
(Formerly Drakes’ Christian School)
Harts Gap, Hastings
Barbados
Read full text of the letter purported to have been submitted by the principals of the Drakes Christian School to the Prime Minister of Barbados
March 20, 2008
The Honourable David Thompson
Prime Minister
Prime Minister’s Office
Government Buildings
Bay Street
Dear Sir:
It is with the deepest regret that we are informing you of the Closure of Elijah-at-Shiloh Christian School Inc. (formerly Drakes’ Christian School) effective March 20, 2008.
We approached you in your former position as Leader of the Opposition in 2000 that you would use your good offices to facilitate the recognition of this Institution by the Ministry of Education, Youth Affairs and Sports as it was then known. You reminded us at that time that Mrs. Frances Drakes, formerly Frances Mosbaugh was your personal teacher when you were enrolled at St. Gabriel’s Primary School.
After December 13, 2001 we wrote you a letter officially thanking you for your interventions.
In the intervening years, even up to this present date, we have experienced great hardship at the hands of Officers of the Ministry of Education and Human Resources as it is now known and very little assistance, in areas of recognition, in areas related to the Eleven Plus, vis-à-vis the particular needs of our former students ( Special Needs) in the areas of Registration and Management at Schools Supervision.
Last year you may have noted that this School and its students and some of the parents in written form, to the previous Prime Minister, The previous Minister of Education, The Chief Education Officer, The Minister of Social Transformation and the Department of Testing and Measurement, MOE, in the Press and on the television made numerous appeals that the stipulated terms, published by the Ministry of Education, Government Secondary Schools of Barbados, 2007 Guide for choice of schools, deferrals and exemptions, be applied without prejudice to applications from this School for deferrals and exemptions. This matter remains unresolved up until the time of this writing. Several students have been left in “limbo” and one who was deemed by a clinical psychologist as being intellectually deficient (mentally retarded) was forced to sit the exam. “Justice deferred is injustice”.
In 2002, subsequent to the receipt of a License to Operate an Educational Institution, issued by the MOE on December 12, 2001, the regularizing of our accounting processes and numerous meetings with our then Financial Controller with Officers of the VAT, we eventually had to personally meet the Chairman of the VAT Tribunal, before this Institution, under its previous name was recognized as a School.
Subsequent to that, we began and were regularly tendering requests for refund of input taxes and receiving such. Further to that our current Financial Controller gave us financial advice that due to the size of our operation it would be best to incorporate and not to continue as a proprietorship as had been registered previously. This was duly approved On March 02, 2005 as indicated by the documents of registration. The VAT continued to honour the fact that we were a School and issue the applied for refunds.
However, on April 16, 2007 we received a notice requesting “information” as to what the status of our company was. They were issued with a copy of the License from the MOE, nothing further was heard from them until an appraisal was issued to this School in early September, 2007. Our financial managers urgently requested and held meetings with the VAT. We were instructed through them to adjust the name of the Company to indicate that it was a School. We have complied at the cost of approximately $8,000 to date in addition to loss of Good Will and Students. Appraisals continue to be issued on a monthly basis.
In pursuit of this matter we have personally spoken with a number of Senior Officers at the VAT up to and including Ms. Dottin, Ms. Goodrige, Mr. Banjie this month. Further letters were Hand Delivered to a number of Officers at the VAT substantiating our above-mentioned position. Further to that after making phone calls to same they informed us that the letter has not yet reached their desk.
One of the assertions that we were informed of was that the License of December 2001 did not categorically state Elijah-at-Shiloh Christian School Inc. as intimated above, we have experienced extreme RESISTANCE in receiving requested communications from the MOE who had been informed of the name change since September 19, 2007. This certification was also requested by the VAT as one of their requirements.
On a number of occasions persons seeking information pertaining to this School or facilities similar to those offered to this School, from Officers of the MOE have informed us that they were given information of a very negative nature about this School and its practices, its teaching staff , and adverse comments of “A RACIAL NATURE” regarding its Administration, by said Officers.
This was clearly slanderous and defamatory of our character. This adversely affected the growth of our business and its financial viability. Yet, the MOE has only ever brought TWO cases to our attention of which they were concerned. In both cases we were able, by our records, to clearly prove that these accusations were unsubstantiated. Further we had implemented a practice of notifying the Ministry in advance, in writing, of all cases in which we had to apply the extreme measure of expelling a student to assist them in their determinations. However, we have subsequently been instructed not to include the details on which we based our judgement in writing to the same Ministry.
The last repeated exercise of re-application for registration was commenced in September 2007, having only been notified of its requirement via a parent who was told by Officers of the MOE that the School was not registered. This is six years subsequent to the issue of the License dated December 12, 2001 and many completed exercises of re-registration.Officers of the MOE have been cognizant and personally recognized that our student body are 99.999% Learning Disabled. Yet, Officers in charge of the Testing and Measurement Division have continued to demand that our students, though totally incapable, conform and complete all testing implemented to measure the progress of normally gifted students. We have never had a student at enrollment nor at any stage along the way who has been creditably able to complete these age-related tests.
There is a Special Needs Division in the MOE. Officers of that Division have visited the School on numerous occasions, and have been appraised visually, experientially by questioning students and by our records of the capability of our students vis-à-vis their age, yet, no concession has ever been granted to the students of this School. In fact, they have insisted that we extend and expand our syllabus to include subjects that the students are unable to perform in writing but have to receive instruction verbally for and even with that level of assistance do not achieve any significant level of academic proficiency in those subjects.
This practice of demanding more than the essential and foundational subjects dilutes in a significant way the amount of resources in terms of time available to remediate the students for which the parents have paid. We have done our best to comply to both requirements, MOE and the parents, at great expense to the viability of this School. Might it appear that there was a concerted effort to reduce our effectiveness in bringing students to a capable level of literacy at which point they would have been able to acquire all of the knowledge that they were unable to acquire due to their illiterate condition?
As a declared Christian Organization, of which we duly inform our clients that it would not be a requirement for entry, but instruction in the Word of God would certainly form part of our curriculum, we have sought to stand by those principles i.e. complying with the Laws of this Country. In doing so, we have found our reputation and our financial viability to be sullied and victimized.
However, it has come to our attention, from the mouths of parents, clients, and other adults, that there are any number of UNLICENSED organizations/institutions available to them in Barbados. In other words, education and particularly education of citizens in need of Special Education is being victimized by those who are employed to regulate education in this country, while there are those who are extra-the-law (outlaws) who are financially advantaged. This is not only true in the MOE, it was also true at the Child Care Board vis-à-vis nurseries and Day Care facilities prior to 2000. If this injustice continues, it promises to promote a black market economy and license extra-legal commercial operations, which will not further the Governance of this Country, but rather promote the further dis-enfranchisement of its people.
Our miniscule but TOTALLY client-supported organization, which never received any subsidies or subventions from MOE, has historically and will continue to do so until its doors are finally closed, met all requirements of the Labour Board, NIS, Ministry of Health, The Fire Department, its own employees and all the other Ministries above-mentioned. Yet, we have often been dealt with as though we were “White Massa”. Both of us, the proprietors and operators are born nationals of this Country. We happen to have invested our finances, skills and time to provide services to Nationals first and some few foreigners, employing nationals of this country. How can this be justified or accepted? Should not one’s record stand for something?
Between 1996 and 2004 our audited records prove that bad debt, non-payment of fees, amounted to: $80,000. if this trend were extrapolated through to 2008 that amount would be $140,000. Accumulated you would certainly agree, this is a sum for the High Court. However, the individual portions are much less and the cost of pursuit by the current system in place, way exceeds the value. You, in your private office as an Attorney, clearly pointed this out to us. In our opinion, there needs to be with all haste, the establishment of some form of judicial system to effectively deal with these injustices. Small Claims Court. People sincerely provide above level services and are left in the lurch to support themselves and meet their obligations.
Mr. Prime Minister, we know there are many more critical and larger matters that will come to your attention or are currently demanding your attention but these “pebbles” make up the building that you and we seek to live in.
We wish you God’s Grace and Favour.
Yours respectfully,
48 responses so far ↓
The People's Democratic Congress // March 23, 2008 at 2:45 PM
Even though there may have been instances of perceived advisorial, managerial and organizational deficiencies and weaknesses related to the ongoing operations of the former Drakes Christian School at Harts Gap, Christ Church – and which would have helped led to this particular school/business having its image, standing and structure “damaged” in the eyes of many persons in Barbados including its owners and some parents – the facts of the matter are such that, based on our analysis of the above letter published on here by BU, and which appears with the names Sydney and Frances Drakes under it, and based, too, on our own careful reading of today’s Sunday Sun – which has its lead story on it, there are three and ONLY three major causes and their associated resultant effects that have altogether bought about the actual and total collapse of this special education school/ business. And they are as follows:
(1) The mounting UNPAID ACCUMULATED DEBT TO IT BY SOME PARENTS OF SOME CHILDREN THAT WOULD HAVE BEEN ATTENDING IT, and which, in the absence of their being able to get – and on a timely basis – suitably appropriated institutional loans without repaying them, would have impacted tremendously on the financial well-being of the school/business;
(2) Gross and reckless administrative pedagogic intrusions and demands that were constantly placed on the school/ business by the totalitarian bureacratic Ministry of Education, and that not only went above and beyond what was necessary to operate a school of this nature, but that also took away from the kind of educational focus and commitment that the school/business had pledged to the public of Barbados to uphold – (as a result of those fundamental wrongs, confusion/frustration would no doubt have been often seen in the entire school/business organization and in its relationships with esp. parents);
(3) This VISCIOUS AND MURDEROUS TAXATION SYSEM IN BARBADOS that stole the muchly needed monies of this organization and the Drakeses, and which had the cruel and unfeeling effect of thus putting the finances of it and the Drakeses under great stress, and having them to be running off to VAT officials begging, to no avail, for only part of the whole of that which would have been theirs in the first place – their property – but which was constantly being stolen from the school/business and them by this abominable TAXATION SYSTEM. NO DOUBT THE VAST MAJORITY OF PEOPLE IN BARBADOS EXPERIENCE THESE ATROCITIES TOO – which is however NOT the issue here.
So once again, and for the umpteenth time in the last decade in Barbados, we see that another vital Barbadian institution – this time a school business – has scandalously broken down as a result of those three major reasons and their associated resultant effects. Meanwhile, this DLP, which unflinchingly sees itself as the party that brought free education to the masses and middle classes of people of Barbados during the 60s, stands idly by with its arms folded doing nothing – even though it clearly had the power – as the government of Barbados today – to do something about this tradegy. What a shame and disgrace!!
PDC
David // March 23, 2008 at 4:16 PM
We think that there is more to this story than meets the eye. Again we are disappointed that the Nation newspaper has printed a bland story to the public without doing any serious background checks to see where this story leads.
Now that we have asked a few more questions than they have maybe we will hear more to this story.
Permres // March 24, 2008 at 9:04 AM
I think the iniquities of the Common Entrance Examination here in Barbados will be one of the factors involved in this story. Every piece of educational research into this type of across-the-board testing, world-wide, at the tender age of 11-plus, has identified serious deficiences in its methods of application and in its supposedly useful results. There should be no need to list them all here, just a few to remind us of them. The pre-exam stress on all (students, parents, teachers), a one-day test is totally inadequate to do what it is supposed to do, misplaced children (both bright and not so bright), little opportunity to re-address the problem of late developers, the narrow range of skills tested, etc.
In this context, special needs children have little or no chance of succeeding in the CEE. and the pressure of the test means that far too little time is spent on their needs. In the government primary schools, often with 30+ students in a class, a child who is backward in their reading on entry into the infants, will still be backward at eleven years old. They then sit this stupid CEE, fail miserably, but still go on to a secondary school where their special needs are even less likely to be met, as teachers struggle to deal with the onset of adolescence in their students.
I know, because I have done quite a bit of private tuition for CEE students.
born and bred // March 24, 2008 at 9:07 AM
BU,
I have written countless times in anonymity as “Born and Bred” and alluded to this situation both on Barbados Free Press and Barbados Underground. Comments such as why don’t I park myself at the Prime Minister’s Office and that I was a coward were the response.
With regards to the letter to the Prime Minister ……….it is not purported. That letter and copies were posted at Brittons Hill Post office circa 3 p.m. Monday March 17 to arrive on March 20. Parents were issued a letter on March 18.
With regards to the “SUDDEN CLOSURE” Let us dispel any notions of callousness or obscurity by us. There are at least two letters inviting parents and guardians : May and September 2007, declaring the THREAT that the School was facing .(copies of which were given to the NATION and CBC).
The same “aggrieved” Ms. Janice Haynes noted in the Nation, was invited to both meetings and to represent her concerns to the Ministry of Education and on Television last year due to another situation which is outlined in this submission further down. She declined.
The Fact: she had prior NOTICE from Mrs. Drakes of the DIRE situation(s) confronting the school and REFUSED to take any effective action to support this School, her son’s. Further, allow us the liberty to contrast her effectiveness in stirring up media support when she personally is afflicted by the same situation. The situation that she refused to address has now come to maturity. We had no grievances with Ms. Haynes who was one of our most satisfied clients for the past six years. Additionally, her son attended every Summer School we held and we were a client of hers through her business contacts.
My husband and I SELFLESSLY taught these children. He often chided teachers in the system that his students were the ones that THEY had rejected.
Back in 2002 we recognized that our turnover of staff was somewhat injurious to the business and the stability of our services. However, the nature of teaching students that need Individual Attention extracts from the teacher an inordinate amount of emotional energy which exhausted most of the people we were able, within the limited financial means of the School, to recruit. This School has NEVER begged, sent our students on “sponsored walks”, nor any such mendicant practise. We espouse and uphold that where service is given no financial reward should be sought.
In order to achieve and sustain the level of instruction and support that our students have needed both Mr. Drakes and myself have sacrificially put in on average five hours per School day each teaching, sometimes more. A School requires personnel Administration, financial administration, continuing maintenance (has anyone been able to criticize or ever tendered a criticism of the high level of maintenance of our plant?) Mr. Drakes was the “maintenance engineer”.
Who trained our staff? It was not the Ministry of Education.
Even Teachers with MA’s (who have been employed here) had to be re- trained by Mrs. Drakes in her special method a combination of Dr. Montessori, Dr. Orton and Ms. Gillingham, Slinglerland and Spalding to mention a few of her mentors, which she translated into teaching suitable for the Caribbean. Books were written that were never published due to lack of funds but were available to teachers and students.
How did Christian get into this organization?
Both M/M Drakes accepted the Lord in their adult lives. They therefore committed to their Lord, their lives in some meaningful and tangible way to serve Him. Every client/parent, every employee, every Inspector, everyone providing service to Drakes Christian School had been duly informed that the Drakes’ would govern this organization and their business practices by their interpretation of the KJV of the Word of God. Written contracts declaring the above, were issued and signed by the Drakes’ to be signed by parents and employees respectively.
They have a litany written in their hearts and memories as do many other business people in this island of employees who were always willing to “receive” but very selfish when it came to “giving” of their time or energy beyond the minimum.
Parents and students who have benefitted substantially and materially from the services provided by the Drakes’ have callously sat by while all of this has been in the press since Mrs . Drakes was interviewed on TV and an interview in the Nation early 2007 re victimization by the Ministry of Education re: students of this organziation regarding the elegibility for deferrals and exemptions at the eleven Plus. The Head of Testing and Measurement, MOE threatened Mrs. Drakes over the telephone with a lawsuit after that limited expose. Copies of which we have, scanned if you so desire to see. Lest our integrity be further impugned.
There is no former employee or disgruntled person in this country who can verifiably stand up and say that DCS and its successor Elijah-at-Shiloh Christian School Inc. owe them one cent.
Where did these monies come from. Do you know that at the dissolution of the company every single parent that had made a deposit or donation was offered and 99.999% accepted and received a refund? Do you know any other organization being FORCED to close its doors, being incorporated, doing this?
There is much, much more. If the administrators of BU care to call and interview us we would be more than happy to comply. We have nothing to hide. We have been insulted, abused and made to be “laughing stock” in our country of birth. Mrs. Drakes spent Easter Sunday after seeing the headlines in a state of shock and grief. The Nation newspaper’s employees did not at any time attempt to find or reveal any counterbalancing opinion. I could have supplied many names and telephone numbers had it been asked. A number of parents called in support and I have an e-mail communication from at least one.
If Ms. Haynes was in fact seeking to ensure that her son continued to receive academic support at a Special Needs’ level, she has effectively KICKED DOWN THE LADDER ON WHICH HE CLIMBED.
Yours truly,
Sydney and Frances Drakes
David // March 24, 2008 at 9:22 AM
Sidney & Frances Drakes
Thanks for trying to clarify some matters for us. Of course we have used the word purported because we have no way of confirming the timelines except from you. In no one does it mean that we disbelieve you but for the sake of fairness to our readers we have to paint an accurate picture.
Even though you state that you mailed the letter to the Prime Minister on the 17th to reach by March 20 in our opinion it does not given the Prime Minister’s office sufficient time to act.
We have had feedback that some parents have objected to the pedestrian style of your syllabus given that all the children at your school were not all special needs but suffering from minor ‘learning needs’.
There has been the talk that your eccentric teaching styles have been frowned on by some parents who would have moved their children from the school after this realization.
We are not seeking to pull down your school merely to give you a chance to represent/refute claims which are out there.
We do sympathize with your plight because you have chosen to operate in the area of teaching which is not ’sexy’. For you to do this suggest that you have a love of teaching. Even if your detractors are unhappy about elements of your operation there is always the opportunity to work with your school to bring you in line.
born and bred // March 24, 2008 at 9:27 AM
Dear BU,
We further tender a letter written and handed to the parents on March 18. Two days before School Closed. Also note Letter From MOE dated March 13 which was received in our Office March 17.
March 18, 2008
Dear Parents/Guardians:
On Thursday March 20, 2008 Elijah-at-Shiloh Christian School Inc. will cease to operate.
It is with much regret and anguish after long and arduous deliberations that Mr. & Mrs. Drakes have been forced to come to the above decision.
Over the past twelve years the School has been sustained by the personal sacrifices of
Mr. & Mrs. Drakes. Their work week often exceeded 60 hours; their vacation never exceeded two weeks. As Founders and Co-Principals they have borne the burdens of Administration, Financial Managers, Personnel Managers, Maintenance Engineers, Trainers, Instructors, Teachers, Counsellors and Surrogate Parents of your children. (cleaning children who have soiled themselves, counseling children who are distraught over things at home).
Retention of a trained, committed and loyal Staff has proven EXTREMELY difficult if not impossible, in part because of the emotional requirements of teaching your children. Over and above this the remuneration required to achieve a minimum standard of living has escalated to numbers beyond the financial capability of the School, current School fees and enrollments inclusive. The School has never received ANY GRANT OR SUBSIDY FROM THE GOVERNMENT OR ANY BUSINESS HOUSE IN BARBADOS.
Apart from this, the moral and personal standards that the teachers have to exemplify before the students requires persons of the highest caliber. Although Christianity has provision for forgiveness of failures it also exhorts that all that is done must be done as unto the Lord. Therefore, our petty actions, our major thoughts and emotions, our behaviour out of School has to consistently give our students an example to follow.
Unfortunately, this has been beyond the reach or understanding of some persons to sustain. We therefore have had an almost continuous turnover of staff. Whenever this has occurred, Mr. & Mrs. Drakes have had to “pick up the pieces” in one case even having had to teach the entire School between the two of us for an extended period of time.
The Ministry of Education has often, in the media, expressed sympathy for parents of students who have Learning Disabilities and proposed various “attractive” but as yet unimplemented or proven programs. Elijah-at-Shiloh Christian School Inc., Formerly Drakes’ Christian School, has had a proven and effective program, implemented on the initiative of the Drakes’ at their personal cost and expense.
However, This School, A School which is clearly a Special School, has received tremendous resistance even to the initial licensing and continuing on some twelve years later through the ongoing, forced requirements that it comply with the monitoring exercises designed for Schools not catering to Special Needs. This School HAS NEVER received any support other than School Fees paid by parents, while other Schools and some favoured organizations are supported by the Ministry of Education and other Sectors of the Barbadian Society!
Through the years, the School’s initial growth and its subsequent viability have been DRASTICALLY HINDERED and SUBVERTED by certain Civil Servants. For instance: the situation with the “11 Plus, Deferrals and Exemptions” last year, which despite having been televised and published in the media remains unresolved. Mr. & Mrs. Drakes invested much energy in compiling and tendering dossiers containing Facts pertaining to this issue, to the Chief Education Officer, The Minister of Education, The Minister of Social Services and even the Prime Minister, to no apparent effect. Not one of those dossiers has even so much as been acknowledged.
Most Barbadians expect that Schools are exempt from VAT. Consider if your School Fees were to be further increased by another 15% (VAT) what impact that would have on your cost of living? The Drakes are well aware that most of you, our clients, would be unable to continue educating their children at this School were that to be the case.
In a previous letter, when we informed you of the proposed School Fee increase, which was to have taken effect from next term, it was stated that we had restrained fee increases for over ten years in sympathy to our clientele.
In 2002, the Drakes’ suffered arduous and long bargaining with the VAT even up to the highest levels of its Tribunal to obtain what every Government School in Barbados and most licensed private Schools receive automatically: VAT Exempt Status. You, our clients, benefited from this by not having to pay 15% VAT on top of your School Fees.
Suddenly, six months ago, Officers of the VAT issued an APPRAISAL instead of sending the usual REFUNDS of input tax to this School. Intervention by financial professionals to the VAT on the School’s behalf, produced the advice/instruction that the most expeditious way to resolve these inconsistencies was to, by change of name, bring all the operations of the School under a new name.
This required many hours, after Mrs. Drakes had run the School and taught the entire day, of further work and dossiers to be prepared, and at least $8,000 to bring the application for VAT recognition to its current condition. Without that exemption the ongoing operating costs of this School would have increased by in excess of 15%., where was this to have come from?
Mr. Drakes arrived in the island on February 19, 2008 and has attended many meetings and compiled further dossiers in an attempt to have these issues resolved. The last meeting he sat with Mrs. Gertrude Welch, Senior Officer of Schools’ Administration’s Division on March 03. She assured Mr. Drakes that a letter of recognition would be issued to the VAT department within the day. That was March 03. Mr. Drakes called Ms. Sealy, the Officer that Mrs. Welch had instructed to issue the letter, twice after that meeting to be told that Ms. Sealy had been very busy but she would see to it immediately.
ON MARCH 13, 2007 A LETTER WAS ISSUED BY THE SAME MS SEALY STATING THAT THE MINISTRY OF EDUCATION IS UNWILLING TO ISSUE A LETTER TO THE DIRECTOR OF VAT ON THE SCHOOL’S BEHALF. SEE ATTACHED LETTER.
All of these sacrificial inputs to facilitate the ongoing operations of this School often go unnoticed and unappreciated by our clients. An audit of monies lost by non-payment of fees back in 2004 revealed that to that date there was $80,000 in UNCOLLECTIBLE debt – meaning: fees unpaid to the School by parents of students. A more recent audit has not been conducted but would surely reveal further loss of income.
Over the entire past twelve years, no employee of this Organization has EVER received a deferred or late payment of their wages. The NIS has NEVER had to send their Officers to collect outstanding contributions, these were ALWAYS, ALL paid on time. Some employees at times when our student enrollment was 62% higher and running costs were much lower, received various bonuses, trips to other islands, car loans, usage of company car etc. Despite this, many bitter, past employees continue to malign Mr. & Mrs. Drakes and the Good Name and Reputation of this School. No credit is ever given by these disgruntled and patently disloyal employees to the fact that they, the employees, have received all of the above in addition to extensive training in the skills and methodologies of teaching children with Learning Disabilities, a definitely marketable skill.
The Drakes have been faithful and steadfast in upholding the Vision of this School, which was shared with you upon enrollment and the training of the students to the STANDARDS that they the Drakes’ have stood for. However, it has become increasingly difficult to find Staff who are willing to uphold those standards and to supervise the training of the Student Body to those standards.
To bring this “Final Epistle” to a closure, we the Drakes have invested substantial money, time, energy and prayers, have endured slander, verbal abuse, ill health and undesired separation in fulfilling our commitment to the Vision of this School and we are no longer able to sustain this level of output.
Thank your patronage.
Yours truly,
Sydney and Frances Drakes
Attachment: Letter Signed By G. Sealy from Ministry of Education
(unable to insert copy of above on this medium)
born and bred // March 24, 2008 at 9:49 AM
David,
Mr. Drakes has stood before parents and students alike and said: he has never put a gun to anyone’s head, nor has he tied anyone and lassoed them in.
They were free to come and they were always free to go. The contents of the syllabus initially focuses on THE NEEDS OF THE STUDENTS TO READ and COUNT.
We have never enrolled or had for enrollment any student who was NOT deficient in one or both of these areas. Our orientation package EXPLICITLY lays out in some ten pages, the way we teach, our emphasis, our School Requirements, Our Christianity and Christian teachings for ALL TO READ before they pay one cent or put their name to it. You can personally come to the School and peruse the 45 orientation packages in files pertaining to each student signed by their parent or guardian.
Further, none of these “so-called” dissatisfied clients have articulated the effect of “Eleven Plus Fever” on their disapproval of our teaching methods or ideals. Within the first two terms of enrollment, we often get glowing reports from parents who are so surprised of the remarkable progress of their child and much praise. This continues until the “eve” of the Eleven Plus exam. It has been our experience that these parents apparently FORGET where their child was before he came here and out of anxiety or some other unexpressed emotion, run back to the School System to as it were, work a miracle that their child who came to us illiterate from that system is suddenly going to receive an imparation which will allow her to successfully master an exam which challenges some adults. Further, the criticisms directed at us and fuelled by those “extra lesson teachers” bears no relevance to the child’s age, ability to perform or ability to acquire information of a printed nature. It is our experience that most of these children are verbally quite intelligent but some disabled to the extent that they will write a sentence as follows:
syoxycgb89y
The child/person who cannot read is effectively “blind”. Yet, students have come to this School at 9 years old and as late as 15 years old from the School System. Some totally unable to read and others unable to write but not mentally deficient.
We have never heard any outcry about Challenor School when people enroll their children into that institution. Further to that the former prime minister injected some extraordinary amount of money into that Institution last year. (see back page of Nation). However, never acknowledged any invitation or letter every written from us. Please allow us to repeat we have never even received a susidy for ONE TEACHER.
David, how long were we to continue begging Ministries and Ministers of Government with our limited resources, without the support of the Client Body, even denial. WHERE WERE WE TO GET THE MONEY FROM. Right now we must go to the VAT office and pay $6,000 out of our own pockets.
We have never PURPORTED to be what we were not. In fact the MOE, specifically Wendy Griffith-Watson, upon our initial registration REFUSED to license this School as a Special Needs School. Documents which we also have.
I have seen you and Barbados Free Press support those who have been persecuted such as Adrian Loveridge. We believe you should take a second look at this whole situation.
JUDGE ME BY MY ACTIONS, NOT HEARSAY.
David // March 24, 2008 at 9:55 AM
born & bred if you are a frequent reader of the blogs you would have realized that we provoke responses many times using a reverse and unorthodox approach. You and others are free to table your views to get your message out there. Its the reason that we have published your story albeit before we had finished our investigation.
Please note that Adrian Loveridge has been attacked along with BFP and BU via our blogs, we can confirm without any doubt.
born and bred // March 24, 2008 at 10:24 AM
David,
I recognize that coming to a public forum such as this I stand to be criticized. However, I hope that the opportunity will be given to me to continue to debate.
Would the School have survived twelve years if all of these negative allegations had any substance?
Tony Hall // March 24, 2008 at 10:53 AM
I am very disturbed about this matter. The Ministry of Education should come out of hiding and really explain what has gone wrong here. Why would the school not be given exempt status, etc? If the school violated rules let the public know.
Citizen First // March 24, 2008 at 11:05 AM
Tony Hall’s comment mirrors some of my own thoughts on this matter.
A great deal has been said in the posts above and I have read them very quickly so the answer to the following question may already have been given however …
In the 12 years of operation, has the Drakes Christian School ever been recognised as an approved educational institution by the Minister of Education as per the requirements of the Education Act?
Just for the record, I had not been aware of this school before this issue was raised on this blog.
born and bred // March 24, 2008 at 11:56 AM
Citizen First:
You did say you have not had the time, we will relieve you of that burden.
In 1996 when Mrs. Drakes first sought registration from the Ministry of Education, after a visit from two officers, was told it would be better for the School to be licensed by the Child Care Board, which Mrs. Drakes pursued and obtained a license which is still in effect from the Child Care Board, it having been endorsed by then Minister of Social Transformation, Mr.
Hamilton Lashley.
Mr. Lashley visited the School when it was in Ealing Park and was aghast. He told Mr. & Mrs. Drakes that the School was being treated like a tennis ball and that citizens’ children were being disadvantaged and that he personally would see to it that the School be licensed.
By Ministerial decree we received a license from the Ministry of Education dated December 13, 2001. This Ministerial Decree opened a vendetta that has never ceased. Officers of The Ministry of Education have done everything in their power except drive up in Police cars to see these doors shut.
Finally, as tendered above, when everything else failed they brought the VAT department into this “melee”. What Licensed School in Barbados pays VAT? Because a holding company had been opened by our Financial Manager in the name of Elijah-at-Shiloh Inc., to regularize our financial operations, which specifically stated that part of its operation was a school – Drakes’ Christian School, since last year have persecuted the writers with assessments which are now in excess of $6,000 . Where is this money to come from. School fees? We have not raised School Fees in ten years because OUR CLIENTELE cannot afford to pay anymore. They told our financial manager that if we changed the entire name of the School to Elijah-at-Shiloh Christian School Inc. they would drop the case. Well always compliant to authority that is what we did at great expense. Have you any idea what it costs to change your entire business Identity?
When that was done we were told by the VAT that that was not sufficient that the MOE must write them acknowledging the new name.
The MOE then told us that we must re-register the School. Mrs. Drakes had to go through the entire process or re-registering the school which was tendered to the MOE on September 19, 2007. They refused to act upon this matter because they are awaiting the Ministry of Health who inspected the School on January 31, 2008 (a routine annual inspection) and passed it but to date has not sent the Certificate. The Ministry of Education is well aware of the delays emanating from the Ministry of Health as this has been a yearly exercise in patience. Many years we have not received said license before May or June. Mrs. Drakes wrote the MOE twice this year explaining the delay of the Certificate being beyond her control.
An aside. Mrs. Drakes has nor never had a secretary. ALL OF THIS PAPER WORK, including typing to these blogs has been done by her. WHY? In order that the services provided be affordable by the people in need.
Mrs. Drakes has written letters to Mr. Richards at Randall Phillips, she has called him, she has entreated him and up until the closure of the Schools’ doors has not received what was needed. The letter that came from Ms. Sealy at the MOE, after Mr. Drakes had flown from Canada to meet specially with Mrs. Gertrude Welch of the MOE on March 03 who assured him that the letter to the VAT would be sent that day, arrived on March 17 and it stated:
How much longer and how many more ministries were the “supplicants” to go to?
In the interim Mrs. Drakes has had two surgeries one on March 03, a major surgery which she is trying to recover from in the middle of this fracas.
We are mere mortals.
Adrian Hinds // March 24, 2008 at 12:01 PM
To the Drakes:
After you have completely come to realize that your services are not appreciated in Barbados. You may want to do like another Barbadian (Dr. Carlyle Applewaite) who was rebuff for his willingness to put his academic expertise in the area of education into use in Barbados. He has return to the US, and his happily using his skills to help similar disabled children in a Michigan school district. There are international communities that will appreciate your skills and service to children and humanity.
David // March 24, 2008 at 12:09 PM
Let us take the statements from the principals of Drakes Christian School at face value.
We know that the well-off in our society have the money to pay for the special teaching which special needs children require. A good conclusion is that working class families is the group mostly affected by Drakes Christian School not being able to offer their services since their decision to close last Thursday.
Why would the government frustrate the effort of the Drakes especially when viewed against a Barbados landscape where the demand for their ’special needs’ teaching far outstrips supply?
Here is an opportunity for the new government of Barbados to bring some leadership to this matter. instead of frustrating the Drakes let them know if they school qualified or if not what they need to qualify. It is the professional thing to do!
Bush tea // March 24, 2008 at 12:27 PM
This situation serves to bring to light the fact that the MOE is the single biggest impediment to education in Barbados.
This has been the case ever since Billie Miller (now Dame) as then minister, seriously damaged a whole school and a whole system because she felt slighted by a Headmaster (an outstanding headmaster) and needed to prove that she was BOSS and not servant of education.
What really is the role of that ministry?
…all they seem to do is to sit on top of all the schools in Barbados – forcing hardworking teachers to do foolishness instead of focusing on the needs of the students.
…they supersede the role of School Boards, over-ride and belittle Principals, and implement systems that seem designed only to ensure that that ministry is seen as lord of all…
It is no surprise to me that they dislike the Drakes.
These sound like intelligent, hardworking, independent Bajans who have a clear goal in life and are prepared to work hard to realize these dreams…. Just like headmaster ‘Joe physics’ Smith was…
… if they were foreigners, or mendicant lackeys who were always begging the various MOE officials for favours and were properly subservient- then they too would benefit like Challenors…
If the new DLP government were truly committed to change as they suggested when they wanted our votes, then a new HARD look would be taken at education generally and at this ministry specifically.
…now here is an opportunity to save the treasury some money. I say reduce the staff there to 10, and send the others back to teaching where they could possibly do something useful.
I am in sympathy with the Drakes, but truth be told, this situation occurs in various ways in most of the schools in Barbados.
The only difference is that when those employed at these schools ‘close shop’ they still continue to turn up at work and collect their salaries – leaving their creativity, commitment, interest, love and national spirit at home….
Education is one expensive mess in Barbados, thanks in part to the MOE.
David // March 24, 2008 at 12:33 PM
Minister Ronald Jones was a frequent visitor to BU and BFP before the general election. We believe that even if he does not have the time now that he is a bigshot Minister his surrogates would have communicated this issue to him Will he respond via BU? We doubt it but he certainly needs to respond to this matter ASAP. Special need children are not easily absorbed in the current educational system which prevails in Barbados.
Adrian Hinds // March 24, 2008 at 12:45 PM
Government should not be in the business of frustrating the efforts of well intended citizens. I find this action to be similar to the activities of several school district managers and their Teacher’s Union bosses here in my neck of the woods; a set of actions that at it’s core is designed to destabilize private teaching institutions in an effort to deny citizens an alternative to what is has become, School districts that have continually fail in educating America’s children. Am i to find it a mere coincidence that at a time that our Barbadian Teachers and Administrators are continually attended Teaching and school Administration seminars and conferences in America that the behaviours of these groups are now very similar?
born and bred // March 24, 2008 at 12:51 PM
Bush Tea:
We had just about given up on fellow Barbadians to “Speak Out” that any of our fellow citizens could be sympathetic and if so COURAGEOUS enough to recognize who the real perpetrators in this situation were and are.
Again we commend your courage Sir or Madame. You are obviously a person of some testicular fortitude.
David, we know this story is is incredulous that those who are paid to serve, serve themselves first and foremost and we who pay them via our taxes are the victims. In particular the Civil Servants at the Ministry of Education.
born and bred // March 24, 2008 at 2:40 PM
Adrian:
You are not a lonely voice blowing in the wind!
This civil service/non-elected governmental interference, obstruction and denial of people’s rightful aspirations to improve themselves and the lot of their children, and the few who are willing to help them, has been the agenda of many internet publications such as “News with Views” to mention only one.
The fact that Barbados’ Civil Service has been “reformed” to enslave the people once again (not with chains but with ignorance) and to serve themselves is not new at all. Just the same horse………..different colour.
Are none of you aware of the “dumbing down” of America’s children? Well it’s coming to Barbados……….playing at a School near you.
David, you find it incredible but please do more research on this subject outside of this 144 square miles. Research a book of many we have read:
“None Dare Call it Education”. Another……..”Death by Entertainment ” and we are unable to recall at this time of stress, countless publications and books written on this subject which are not accessible to us at this time.
Barbados and Barbadians took great pride in our nation claiming 96% literacy. It is not far from when we will become the “laughing stock”. Mrs. Drakes can tell you a more honest literacy percentage based on the hundreds of assessments she has completed of ILLITERATE children.
Further, consider that the illiterate and the underprivileged have many more children per fertile female than the well educated ELITE, who preside over them.
ALARM! Barbados is becoming a “slave breeding station” again. Hence the opposition to us or anyone who wants to break the YOLK that has been cast over the least fortunate of our nation.
In all the stress we omitted to include in the discussions that Mrs. Drakes received a small legacy from her father, part of which was dedicated to providing scholarships to needy parents of students of Drakes’ Christian School. The Peter de Verteville Scholarship Fund Inc.
When we tried to get the Nation to publish this along with the history of Dr. Peter de Verteville, Frances Drakes’ father, a man who served this country although not born here, spent the majority of his adult life here and was an active participant in the business life of Barbados being Branch Manager of Manulife in the Caribbean and the Honorary Austrian Consul, Consultant to National Insurance Board when it was first formed. There are still many in the insurance trade who benefited from training received from him and they have attested so to us.
The Nation refused to publish this information and article, not once, not twice but three times. We eventually gave up.
Now to deal with Corporate Barbados. One Barbadian megacompany of a 3 figure number when hundreds were appealed to with personal letters written by the Drakes. This appeal was so worded as to indicate that the funds would not go directly to the School but would be applied to the cost of education for students whose parents could hardly afford to pay the $300 per month.
One particularly heartrending piece of hypocrisy that came as a result of this ……. a certain SIR JOHN acknowledged knowing Ms. Frances de Verteville and admiring her on occasions of church attendance while she was yet a juvenile; but when the appeal was made directly to him at his residence and an invitation laid before him to visit the School, he never responded.
This is not a black/white thing it is far bigger. The Word says that what you do unto the least of these, you do unto me.
WANT TO KNOW // March 24, 2008 at 4:21 PM
DO U NOT MISTREAT THE CHILDREN HOW MUCH SCHOOL FEES DO U CHARGE.
U ALWAYS HAD PLANS OF CLOSING DOWN THE SCHOOL THAT IS WHY MR.DRAKES WAS LIVING IN CANADA FOR THE PAST TWO YEARS.
born and bred // March 24, 2008 at 4:53 PM
How did we mistreat the children, Since you appear to know!
The School fees were $1150 per term or $88.00 per week. Even some nurseries charge more.
Do a little research, as we were the ONLY private Special Needs School, as to what parents pay in North America, Europe and the UK for such services. This was a bargain. The one or two non-nationals whose parents brought them to this School attested to it.
Which other Private School in Barbados offered weekly payment plans and monthly payment plans interest and service charge free? Further, which private School in this country set up a Scholarship Fund and gave free education to the neediest of its students?
While Mr. Drakes was in Canada on his OWN business where and how did Mrs. Drakes live? Thanks for bringing this up. Have you or anyone else considered what a sacrifice both Mr. and Mrs. Drakes made to keep this School going. Mrs. Drakes for two years now has seen Mr. Drakes on an average of THREE MONTHS per year. We are happily married and this was EXTREMELY difficult for us.
Since we were always planning to shut the School, as far as you know, why then did we change the name in September 2007. Wouldn’t it have been FAR EASIER to shut it then? Do you think we are masochists? In other words seeking more pain?? Why have we ordered monograms, T Shirts, $1000 BDS in text books in shipment now and $4000 in text books on our shelves that can never be used?
If we wanted to shut down this School, which is totally at our discretion being the proprietors, why would we have recruited new staff as recently as the beginning of this month?
Why would Mr. Drakes “bother” to go and meet with Mrs. Gertrude Welch at Schools Administrations to attempt to resolve this matter and Hand deliver dossiers to the VAT if he intended to shut down the School?
Why would Mr. Drakes leave his own business for more than 6 weeks to come here? Could not he have instructed Mrs. Drakes to proceed with shutting down the School?
How many companies, locally owned and foreign alike have shut down in Barbados from one day to the next and the employees were at the National Insurance and the Labour Board for compensation? Since you want to know ask the employees that were with us to the end. They will tell you how they were treated.
WANT TO KNOW // March 24, 2008 at 5:04 PM
THERE ARE LAWSUITS PENDING AGAINST DRAKES CHRISTIAN SCHOOL SINCE NAME CHANGE.
born and bred // March 24, 2008 at 5:09 PM
You know something.
However, we are not aware of any pending lawsuit at today’s date, March 24, 2008 and our accountants have NEVER paid any lawyer any settlement with regards to ANY lawsuit since we commenced operation.
Thanks again for revealing what the “pumpkin vine” has been saying about us.
Too bad, they won’t have us to gossip about and slander any more.
Warrior // March 24, 2008 at 7:31 PM
This tale is truly one of intrigue.
I have heard of the Drakes School and only good things as I have a colleague who sent her child there for a time and had marked improvement but had to discontinue only because of being financially unable to manage the fees. The child is now going to another institute and shows significant decline in behaviour, attitude and education.
I have long maintained that the MOE is as antiquated as the complex upon which it is situated and is really not in a position to do anything positive for the children of this nation.
The obsolete statistics as it pertains to our supposedly high literacy is a dead horse and is being flogged until it buries the rest of the nation and we remain the laughing stock of the entire world.
I want this story to go world wide because unless light is shed in these little dark holes then all the cockroaches get to hold their party.
Education in Barbados is one of my pet peeves along with Health Care and social services. I wonder how long it will take for the DLP “monkey to show it tail” or will they be men and women with balls and clean up this unearthly mess by the supposed powers that be.
Minister of Education over to you. You now have to wuk for my money – or would you be another Barney Lynch?
Pat // March 24, 2008 at 7:35 PM
It is sad, sad, sad. I have a young cousin studying Education at University and specializing in special needs. One more job opportunity gone.
Having said that, why did the Drakes not register their school as a non-profit organization and be exempt from tax status? As a non-profit, they can claim rent for property use, and salaries and admin fees for them selves, plus other expenses. The money they saved on taxes, could be mowed back into the school.
Baps // March 24, 2008 at 7:58 PM
I agree totally that this Nation’s strongest area is education, inadequate dealing with these institutions will result in total decline. The MOE is out-dated and totally out of sync with the real world of teaching. It needs total revamping, the majority of those in there want sending home. The system is failing, it is failing teachers as well as the Nation’s children and people don’t seem to be getting this message. The majority of teachers are going through the motions, the older ones are existing to retire with their gratuity and their pensions and the younger ones are unwilling to fight as it seems a pointless, hopeless battle. I am hoping that Mr Jones will bring something new to the plate as someone who has been in the midst of the system and knows its inadequacies.
born and bred // March 24, 2008 at 8:09 PM
Dear Warrior:
Thank you for your supportive comments and indeed we would be satisfied if our suffering causes the plight of these unfortunate and dispossessed children to come to the attention of those who truly hold power — the unelected Government of this country — the Civil Servants.
Perhaps their hearts are not quite as callous as they now appear or maybe some of the statisticians will look up from the numbers and see the true state of affairs in this country.
What happens to these today may be your plight tomorrow. This was eloquently stated by a well known martyr of the 20th century — Dietrich Bonhoeffer, hanged by the Nazis for his Christianity.
Pat:
Our comment to your young cousin and all others who are so inclined: the academic requirements of these children can easily be met by any secondary school graduate with a cent’s worth of common sense. However, your greatest benefit or your achilles heel will be your ability to be patient, patient, patient and more patient again because their progress AT BEST is VERY SLOW and not at all sure. We sincerely doubt that the academic excellence demanded by Cave Hill will in any way equip you for the challenge you aspire to grapple with. Suffering Chinese water torture might be easier. Among some of our most recent employees have been a number of people with equal academic qualifictions or even higher to what you aspire. They experienced exhaustion and burn out in their short tenure with our School; while those of lower academic aspirations for some reason seemed to be able to empathize with these slow learners and motivate them to press on in spite of their disabilities.
Could it be that University Education, while giving you many skills, diminishes the ability to empathize with the less fortunate? Challenging isn’t it?
David // March 24, 2008 at 8:16 PM
It was only last week we heard Bobby Morris criticizing our education system. He felt that too much emphasis is being placed on the secondary and tertiary levels at the expense of the primary level. Although his comment is not directly related to the Drakes issue we believe that it speaks to leadership or lack of in our educational system.
We believe that Bobby Morris has been elected to a task force mandated to make recommendations to improve the current educational structure.
Bush tea // March 24, 2008 at 8:24 PM
David, ‘Want to know’ seems to be fishing….
However I must say that I am disappointed that the Drakes waited until they had to close the school before going public and demanding fair treatment as Bajans.
Their mistake has been to try to play the games dictated by the faceless, useless civil servants.
Admittedly ‘government workers’ have the ability to frustrate legitimate business persons. We have seen how they arrange ‘audits’, loose files, delay permits and ‘discover’ infringements etc to frustrate genuine businesspeople. BUT THIS ONLY WORKS BECAUSE SO FEW STAND UP TO THEIR NONSENSE.
Our Politicians, far from bringing these civil ’servants’ under control, are finding themselves under their spell.
One of the biggest jokes of the BLP regime was the concept of ‘PUBLIC SECTOR REFORM’
Don’t laugh David, but you realize that all we got out of that was an additional department that does absolutely nothing, …while they have created an additional department with heads, clerical positions etc…. a civil service master stroke.
…there is only ONE ITEM needed for effective public sector reform…..
..If you do not do your work, then you are out of a job.
born and bred // March 24, 2008 at 8:50 PM
Hi Bush Tea:
As business people we agree wholeheartedly with you. The Scripture says: they that don’t work shouldn’t eat. That’s in the New Testament.
Who in the Civil Service has the testicular fortitude to start the ball rolling? A previous PM whom posthumously the MOE lauds, was quoted as saying: “they are an army in occupation”.
As persons of integrity, when you are in negotiations, you don’t expose the inconsistencies of your “opponents”. As a show of “good faith” one goes along with the pace and tone of the negotiation. However, when it becomes FULLY CLEAR that your “opponent” is not negotiating in “good faith” but stalling and prevaricating, you have no other recourse than to call them out as such: liars or thieves or both.
Mr. Drakes was a Civil Servant for 25 years prior to joining Frances in her School which she founded and assuming the mantle of leadership.
He is today a victim of the same callous operations of the civil service as he was when he first entered the service. Officers’ remuneration or instructions for those remunerations are delayed, lost in messengers’ cases, put aside because an Officer is on “sick leave” or was sent to another assignment and no-one has been assigned to that position and other such spurious arguments. The fact remains, that the Officer who has put in his due hours has to seek credit or the compassion of his relatives and close friends to meet his commitments and sustain himself to put in a further period before he is even likely to receive his wages. In a number of cases, this went on for six months or more.
Mr. Drakes is 55 years of age, eligible to receive his gratuity and pension and would you believe after duly and frequently communicating with Officers in the Public Service responsible for pensions is now well post his anniversary and as yet his file is still “in the system” to be completed.
Twenty nine years later they are still operating as they were when he first joined the services. Many political personages have held position and relinquished same. Some are even deceased. Yet, in spite of Public Sector Reform and all the millions of dollars and hype, the Public Sector has been unable to motivate itself to be more caring and compassionate towards its own members. How in heavens name do you expect it to ever think about the rest of us Bajans?
You had better pray for them and us!
Permres // March 25, 2008 at 6:57 AM
Pat asked, “… why did the Drakes not register their school as a non-profit organization and be exempt from tax status? ” and I was hoping for a response from Born and Bred.
I am not deliberately trying to put Mr and Mrs Drakes on a spot, I have so far been very interested and impressed with all they have had to say, and this seems a good question.
Anonymous // March 25, 2008 at 9:44 AM
..but Permres,
…why should these Bajans need to register as a ‘non-profit’ organization? I assume that they were intent on running a legitimate business in their area of expertise.
It would be dishonest to register as ‘non profit’ if it is intended at some stage to be a profitable, successful business like any other.
All they seem to be asking is to be treated in the same manner as all other similar businesses in Barbados and for transactions to be business-like, honest and up front.
born and bred // March 25, 2008 at 10:04 AM
Hello Permres:
In the evolution of our business/School, we have had a number of struggles along the way.
Initially, we started out with a Proprietorship, then progressed to an Incorporation “Trading As”. We have stated before that that incorporation was later harmonized to absorb our subsidiary and this latest harmonization w which was forced us by the VAT, exposed us to the VAT and MOE’s re-registration process.
Over the years, we and a number of our business colleagues in the same field have from time-to-time considered registering our various Schools as “non-profit” companies. The conclusion had been that it was, up until that time, exceedingly difficult if not impossible to achieve in the climate of this present Civil Service .
More importantly, as Christians, who have asserted that we will be governed by the Word of God, there are at least two principles which would have been contravened:
The most controversial first: The Word commands us to pay our taxes and it gives reasons why.
Secondly, the Word commands us not to bear false witness.
Even if it were feasible, establishing a non-profit to “hide” or obscure our earnings and thereby evade those taxes that others are expected to pay, would be a hyprocrisy for an organization claiming to be Christian and governed by the Word of God.
This is why, dear readers, we have faced so many trials and tribulations because we have always done our best to abide by the Word of God which also states in the Book of Job:
As the sparks fly upward, man that is born of woman is subject to trouble.
We are in the process of shutting down this computer now and we will not be in access of one for at least two weeks. At that time if any other questions or concerns arise on this blog, we will continue to answer them to the best of our ability.
Thank you so much David for allowing us the opportunity to give our side of the story.
God Bless you all!
Tony Hall // March 25, 2008 at 12:39 PM
It breaks my heart to see that this is a school which is needed very badly in Barbados. From what I have read it seems as if the demise of this school has been caused by bureaucratic bungling, jealousy and vindictiveness. I believe that Mr. Ronald Jones should have a look at this matter and make sure it is laid on the table when Cabinet meets again. To put these children into a regular school setting is unfair to them. Is the Ministry of Education thinking? This needs to be exposed more to the public.
born and bred // March 25, 2008 at 1:04 PM
Hello Tony:
We haven’t quite wrapped up yet and having read your message wanted to respond.
Thank you for your comments! They are insightful and absolutely correct. If only others could have discerned the truth and helped us earlier this would never have happened.
If your heart convicts you that you should take action or bring it to the attention of those who should have taken action a long time ago, PROCEED with all haste and may your path be straight.
Pat // March 25, 2008 at 5:59 PM
Born and Bred:
Non-profits are not set up to hide or obscure earnings. It provides government concessions and corporate benefits which would enhance the operation of the facility, to the benefit of the children. It seems to me, that your school was profit oriented and that is an avenue for failure unless all the parents of disabled children are equally affluent. If there are not, and the MOE is not subsidizing under priviledged families, you will not take in enough income to be viable.
With non-profits you have to prepare income statements, balance sheets and file returns like other business. You just dont pay taxes. Any surplus over operating expenses are usually carried over to the next years operations. It has to be transparent.
David // March 26, 2008 at 6:46 AM
To the Drakes:
Did we read in the newspaper yesterday that you have an auction at the school today? It all seems to be very hastily organized remembering that you sent correspondence to the Prime Minister dated 17 to be received on the 20 March 2008?
Warrior // March 26, 2008 at 1:01 PM
David,
any good journalist knows that there is always more in the mortar than the pestle.
Perhaps you can put our some feelers and get some answers. Not even the parents seem to be responding to this blog. story.
WANT TO KNOW // March 26, 2008 at 5:27 PM
In my opinion everything was organised a couple a months ago
David // March 26, 2008 at 7:16 PM
Warrior if you read our preamble to this blog and subsequent comments we have been pressing the Drakes for information. We took a decision to give them a hearing but we continue to have a feeling that the full story has not been told based on other feedback that we have gotten.
Isabella // March 28, 2008 at 11:11 AM
I do believe
born and bred // April 9, 2008 at 5:15 PM
David:
Can you squeeze blood out of a stone?
How many more facts can we possibly give?
My husband and I have told the whole of Barbados and any body else in the world that is willing to listen, without their agenda plugged in, THESE ARE THE SIMPLE FACTS.
We, the Drakes’ have done all that is humanly possible and some more to keep the doors of Drakes’ Christian School open and it has not improved our reputation one farthing’s worth in front of all of you Bajans.
All of you willling to sit on the river bank and talk the river bad and when the rains come, you vexed with the water.
Drakes’ Christian School had in its lifetime over seven thousand students which means there were at least seven thousand families whose children went through our doors and NOT ONE OF THEM HAS STOOD UP IN THE MEDIA OR IN THIS BLOG AND SAID YEA OR NAY ABOUT THE SCHOOL OR US.
How many students do you have to have before your good work can be seen? Do you know how many of them can read and write now? Where are they, where are their mothers and their fathers. You mean NONE of them read your blog?
THERE WAS NO HELP FROM ANY OF YOU BAJANS FOR THE EDUCATION OF LESS FORTUNATE BAJANS AND NOW YOU WANT TO BLISTER US. GO AHEAD……..(Sydney says) “Make My Day, take a number”.
My husband is fourth or fifth generation Bajan. You all like to “Bad Talk” and MALIGN and PULL DOWN . That is why you can’t see the truth. It will drive over “wunna” and “wunna” will still be looking for the truth.
WHAT SOURCES COULD YOU HAVE? Tell them put their money where their mouth is and you will see who will stand up behind you David.
An earlier blogger said they had lawsuits and you told that person if they don’t have facts don’t come on the blog. Well we are putting it to you, if your sources don’t have facts tell them to shut up.
ARE YOU ONLY LOOKING FOR SCANDAL AND SENSATIONALISM?
The Queens College Newsletter for March 2008 had this famous quotation in it:
First they came for the Jews and I did not speak out because I was not a Jew. Then they came for the Communists and I did not speak out because I was not a Communist. Then they came for the Trade Unionists and I did not speak out because I was not a Trade Unionist. Then they came for ME and there was NO-ONE LEFT TO SPEAK OUT FOR ME.
Pastor Martin Niemuller
Sydney and Frances Drakes
no name // April 9, 2008 at 9:17 PM
born and bred,
That passage from Pastor Martin Niemuller says it clearly.
Take comfort, you can be sure that all will be well. There is a season for everything. Be patient and persevere.
born and bred // April 9, 2008 at 9:44 PM
This is Frances. Sydney is out. He is hurting. He is angry. So am I . We feel used and abused. Both Born and Bred.
I have spent three weeks crying. Sydney asks me why I cry for people who did not care for me or the good I did. I ask God WHY?
ISABELLA:
I take your comment to mean that you believe what we said. Thank You!
NO NAME:
….. I don’t know who you are, may be an angel certainly a TRUE BELIEVER. Your words are so appropriate and so encouraging.
THANK YOU.
born and bred // April 9, 2008 at 11:51 PM
David:
To the Drakes:
Did we read in the newspaper yesterday that you have an auction at the school today? It all seems to be very hastily organized remembering that you sent correspondence to the Prime Minister dated 17 to be received on the 20 March 2008?
Some Comments:
“Justice Delayed is justice denied”
We did not write the Prime Minister seeking a change in heart.
READ THE CORRESPONDENCE TO THE PM FULLY AND DON’T JUMP TO ASSUMPTIONS. PUT DOWN YOUR AGENDA.
We have spent YEARS trying to obtain a FAIR BREAK — obviously the impossible. Or even a REASONABLE BREAK. The present PM is not the first holder of that office to receive our pleas for intervention. Nor is it the first time we have spoken to David Thompson PERSONALLY as Leader of the Opposition and in his private practise.
We finally wrote the PM on March 17 to let him know the truth, the facts in the hope that PERHAPS some redress maybe made in the future. Not for us.
That the trail we have blazed and the needs that we have identified would be FINALLY ADDRESSED i.e. SMALL CLAIMS COURT, NEED FOR ALLOCATION OF FUNDS PART ICULARLY FOR SPECIAL EDUCA TION . IMPLEMENTATION OF PROGRAMS APPROPRIATE TO THE NEEDS OF CHILDREN WITH LEARNING DISABILITIES. THEY ARE NOT STUPID. IT IS THE TEACHERS THAT ARE.
When we reached the conclusion that we could no longer continue, neither financially, emotionally nor physically we the owners decided to close the School.
What then were we to do? Throw ALL OF THE MATERIALS INTO THE CAREENAGE OR MANGROVE LANDFILL?
What little we recovered in the Auction you disparagingly refer to, was less than 10 percent of the cost of those things which were sold.
DAVID, If you can’t understand that, maybe there is a wider need for a Special Needs School than we thought.
Permres // April 10, 2008 at 10:59 AM
I would just like to give another word of support for Mr. and Mrs Drake. In my experience private education in the UK has never attempted to operate other than as a small business, and fierce competition between schools has flourished in recent years, so I see nothing wrong in running a school for profit. Of course this is open to corruption, but so is any human institution: “Let those who have sinned cast the first stone”. I do not know the Drakes, but I cannot believe they had anything other than Christian altruistic motives for opening and running their school.
A recent promising development here in Barbados concerning special education, and in particular the teaching of reading, is the emphasis placed just this last week by the Ministry of Education. Seminars for primary HTs, on the teaching of reading and the early recognition of children who are having serious difficulties – I am pleased MoE have spotted the need! Let us hope that these HTs can influence their teachers, which is where the real work is done.
I would also like to think that this incident over the Drake’s school helped to bring the problem to the surface. I am still in contact with many primary children and I will be keeping a close watch for IMMEDIATE changes in classroom practice, otherwise we may think that those seminars were just a waste of time.
Permres // April 10, 2008 at 12:47 PM
oops! “Let those without sin cast the first stone”.
Anyway, I am sure readers will forgive me.
Anonymous // April 10, 2008 at 4:26 PM
Everything happens for a reason…..