Jamaica: 16-year-old girl expelled from school for kissing another girl, mother opposed

Mother in St James, Jamaica, has expressed her anger over the authorities of St James High, who expelled her 16-year-old daughter in January over kissing another girl

Monday, 22nd April 2024

Joseph Williams, principal of St James High School (left); The entrance to the St James High School in Montego Bay (right)

Jamaica: A mother in St James, Jamaica, has expressed her anger over the authorities of St James High, who expelled her 16-year-old daughter in January over kissing another girl. She said that the principal of the school, Joseph Williams, called the act a youthful lapse and kicked the 10th grader out of the premises. The mother fumed that the Principal did not provide any official documentation to make it easier for her daughter to get enrolled in a new school which is making it really hard for her to get her admission done. The teen’s mother, Alicia R., said that following the act, she is facing difficulty in getting her daughter enrolled at another school in the parish. She also said that the teen was captured on video kissing a female on January 16, 2024, which resulted in her expulsion. Alicia stated that there was a two second video which showed her daughter kissing another girl and it was like those GIF clips, nothing derogatory or anything like that but just a kiss. It is being said that the girl put the video on her WhatsApp following which her school principal said that she is out. The other students in the video was also a student of St James High and both girls were in their school uniforms. Her mother added that she was called by the school authorities with the parents of the other girl and was asked by the principal to find another school for her. Alicia stated that despite her begging for a chance for her daughter, Principal Williams said no. In addition to this, the sources reported that when asked Williams to comment on the situation he said nothing much but only, “Maybe you can help her to get into some other school, I do not have anything to say about this.” As the news spread over social media, users expressed their anger over the Principal and called the situation very normal and common. “When we were young we use to hug up & kiss one another to it better she do that more than killing someone. So the school put her out now fi go tun criminal very sad jamaica,” wrote a user named Joan Genus while another user said, “This principal is not in his senses. Mother, hurry and seek legal action against the board.” “This is an unacceptable decision, and it should be reversed. The Principal should not be allowed to make a decision based on his personal opinion,” said another user named Garth Sherwood.