It hasn’t been a very good week for Michaelhouse, with two separate incidents coming to light that don’t reflect well on the school.

That’s in addition to the armed robbery and shootout that occurred on the premises back in March.

As with any story about one of the most expensive schools in the country, some numbers are in order. According to the 2018 Fees page on their site, you’re forking out R265 680 a year for the pleasure of sending a kid through high school.

[That’s aside from a non-refundable registration fee (R950), a Voluntary Development Levy (R4 825), and a few other bank account ticklers.]

Anyway, back to the matter at hand. How about this from Times LIVE:

A teacher has resigned from Michaelhouse private boarding school for boys in KwaZulu-Natal after it emerged that he was involved in an “inappropriate relationship” with a pupil…

Parents were notified about the incident via a circular sent out last week. It read: “It has emerged that an inappropriate relationship was established between a teacher and a … boy‚ via a social media platform. The issue is the subject of an ongoing and thorough investigation by the school.”

School spokesperson Murray Witherspoon confirmed that the letter was indeed issued by the school.

No police action was taken because “nothing illegal happened‚” Witherspoon said‚ adding that the boy had reached the age of consent and the action appeared to have been consensual. In South Africa‚ the official age of consent is 16.

We won’t go into too much detail, but we have heard that the “inappropriate relationship” may not have been limited to social media alone.

More from that letter:

Witherspoon said the teacher had chosen to leave the school because his actions were against the policy of the school.

The circular said: “The boy is in the care of his parents. As he is … a minor‚ we are obliged to protect the boy’s identity. All necessary legal and pastoral steps in relation to the incident will be taken.

That leads us to the second incident, which saw two Michaelhouse pupils suspended for selling “dagga lollies”.

Here’s the Maritzburg Sun:

Two senior Michaelhouse learners have been suspended from the school for selling dagga-infused lollipops, also known as “canna pops”, made up of a few home ingredients mixed with dagga.

A statement released by the school on Sunday confirmed the boys had left and said the school management had promptly investigated a full enquiry and disciplinary process after the issue was brought to their attention.

“Michaelhouse remains vigilant on the issue of illegal substances and views the incident in a very serious light” said Rector Paul Fleischack.

When you’re tucked away in the KZN Midlands, a ‘canna pop’ and a stroll through the grounds might be a day well spent.

Everybody knows that Michaelhouse remains a fine institution, and for that price you would hope so, but it’s certainly a week those affiliated with the school will want to forget.

[sources:timeslive&maritzburgsun]