PORT ANTONIO, Portland — For the second day in a row, teachers at the Port Antonio Comprehensive High School yesterday staged a sit-in to protest against Tuesday’s alleged assault of a female teacher who had attempted to stop a fight between two students.

Their protest was later reinforced by students who mounted a roadblock and called for action to be taken against their peer, who is said to have slapped the teacher in the face as she tried to quell a disturbance. Yesterday afternoon, the main road in front of the facility was littered with old desks, chairs and stones. A small contingent of police officers stood guard.

The incident began Tuesday when two students began fighting in the school yard during the break period of the afternoon shift. They were taken to the staff room where one of the students, who was said to be the aggressor, allegedly slapped the teacher in the face. The teacher reportedly retaliated by slapping the student’s face.

According to Observer sources, the child called her parents to the school and threats were made against a school security guard and another teacher who was on the compound. The police were summoned but the parents left with their child before the cops arrived at the school.

Teachers on the afternoon shift began their sit-in the next day, with some remaining in the staff room while others assigned work and then left the classrooms. Yesterday, at about 1:00 pm, students staged their protest which spilled onto the main road. Using cardboard placards to express their feelings, some called for the principal to expel the student who allegedly assaulted the teacher, while others who criticised the principal’s failure to act called for his resignation.

The police were called in to restore calm and school principal Errol Harris addressed the students. He later told the Observer that the matter had been reported to the school board and the two students who were involved in the fight would be suspended.