Mystery last night surrounded an alleged disagreement between teachers and the principal at Whitney Institute - with the latter claiming yesterday to know nothing about the "row".

An anonymous teacher told The Royal Gazette that an argument erupted at the middle school last week regarding discipline. "It's very serious," said the source, adding that it concerned students' behaviour. "The teachers are rebelling. They are very upset."

Devarr Boyles, the teachers' acting union rep, said it was "premature" to comment. "The school will be putting something together officially and we'll get it to the press. We don't have all the information. We are not in a position to elaborate."

But Mike Charles, general secretary of Bermuda Union of Teachers (BUT) told this newspaper that there was some "slight unrest" at the school last Friday. "We have heard of it," he said. "I think we had a meeting with some of the reps at Whitney and I guess they have some difficulty with the discipline situation down there with the students.

"I think it arises out of that. My reports tell me that they are trying to work it out with the principal. Hopefully they'll sort it out."

Mr. Charles said he understood that the school was short-staffed, partly because the deputy principal was off the Island. "You have this age group, between 11 and 14, when the hormones are jumping around and the kids are a handful. Things get a little bit too much," he said.

"I don't know exactly what happened but evidently the staff were rather disgruntled. Things have been a little bit strained down there. I don't think it was one incident. Usually these things are things that have been brewing for some time."

Union president Lisa Trott works at the school. She said on Tuesday afternoon that staff and management were due to have a meeting and that she would rather comment afterwards. It has not been possible to contact her since.

"It's pretty much internal stuff," she said on Tuesday. "There is nothing earth shattering for anybody else."

Whitney principal Freddie Evans dismissed claims of a row when asked about it yesterday. "We haven't had any problems here," he insisted. "I'm not privy to what you are talking about. We can't help you there."

Wendell Eve, president of the school's Parent Teacher Student Association, said he was aware that there had been a disagreement but did not know any details. "We are not sure exactly what transpired," he said.

Tom Davis, chairman of the school's board of trustees, could not be contacted for comment.