Bribery Suspected As School Principal Gets Positive Coverage From Student Newspaper

The ministry sees her an unable to function in her normal capacity with this inquiry hanging over her.

Mazkeret Batya, March 5 – A local headmaster faces an ethics inquiry following revelations that the monthly publication put out by the student body offered praise for her policies, an occurrence that accusers claim constitutes bribery.

A Ministry of Education spokesperson told reporters today (Tuesday) that Principal Tikki Shoret of Ilan Ramon High School in this southern town may have violated ethics rules when news and commentary in the student newspaper The Spotlight contained positive coverage and opinions of her management and leadership.

“An investigation will take place on this serious matter,” declared ministry representative Misha Gaas. “Education personnel and officials are barred from accepting gifts or favors of any sort from students or parents, and such student newspaper content to the principal’s benefit may qualify as a violation of that ban. Ms. Shoret has been suspended without pay pending the resolution of this case.”

Experts expressed varied opinions on the strength of the bribery case against her. “It’s pretty clear to me – this one’s a slam dunk,” predicted commentator Ben Caspit. “The principal’s career hinges on doing a good job, one metric of which takes into account her relationship with the students under her aegis. If those students give her glowing reviews, that helps her advance. Such positive content in the official student publication constitutes a forbidden benefit under ministry ethics regulations. She’ll likely be disciplined in some fashion, but in any case it’s important that the ministry sees her as unable to function in her normal capacity with this inquiry hanging over her, so she’ll be on furlough for the time being.”

Others questioned the strength of the case against Ms. Shoret. “There’s nothing to indicate anyone at the ministry cares what the students think,” observed journalist Rabak Varid. “I don’t think the fact that the editors and writers at The Spotlight think well of their principal makes a lick of difference to her professional prospects. I mean, we’re talking about kids who routinely form lifelong addictions to tobacco at their age, which rightly casts doubt on whether anything they say or think merits consideration as coming from sound judgment. Ms. Shoret’s supervisors at the ministry know this as well as anyone, and seldom, if ever, base their decisions on student desires.”

A lawyer for the principal declined comment, but vowed to clear his client’s name. “It’s a witch hunt,” he pronounced. “Professional rivals who want Ms. Shoret’s position for themselves have cooked up a scheme to get rid of her, but it will fail. Nothing will happen because nothing happened.”

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