Father goes to court over ‘schoolboy error’

Durban - The father of twin boys attending a top Durban school obtained a Durban High Court interdict to stop the finalisation of their grades for life orientation after they were both marked down as punishment for submitting the same assignment.

The man, who cannot be named to protect the identity of his teenage sons, accused the school of acting “grossly” unreasonably and disregarding its own code of conduct in penalising the brothers, especially in the light of their good academic track records.

In his urgent application before Acting Judge Anton de Beer, the father said the low grades would be cast in stone once this term’s school reports were printed - thus harming his children’s chances of clinching a spot at medical school.

De Beer granted an interim rule, giving the school a chance to respond by April 16.

In terms of the order, the school must mark a second assignment submitted by one of the twins. It may not finalise the class positions in the grade pending the final outcome of the application.

According to the father’s affidavit, the boys were summoned two weeks ago by their respective teachers to explain themselves, and were then taken to the principal’s office. One was issued with a demerit and his term mark was reduced from 100 percent to 45 percent, for allegedly handing in his twin’s assignment, while his brother forfeited 10 percent of his term mark, lowering it to 90 percent.

The twins maintained it was a mistake because they had done their projects on the same computer.

The father said he had hurried to the school on the same day to appeal against the decision, and the boys’ mother then e-mailed the correct assignment to the school, to no avail.

He argued that if the punishment was not withdrawn, the offending son’s “impeccable” record would be blemished, he would not be eligible for any leadership positions, school colours awards would be withheld, and he ran the risk of being expelled if slapped with a second demerit.

If the decision of the principal was allowed to stand, both children would be humiliated, which would “affect their confidence and adversely affect their academic record”, he said.

The Mercury