charges of wrongful dismissal.

And ex-Sandys Secondary School French teacher Josseline Philip has sought legal help in fighting the school's board of governors and its principal Melvyn Bassett.

Mrs. Philip -- the spouse of a Bermudian -- said the principal told her in May that they would be working together during the next school year.

She said Mr. Bassett added that she would be formally assessed but a week later she was told her employment had been terminated.

Mrs. Philip said he must have known this when he told her she would be staying at the school.

And she added that an advertisement for her job had been put in the paper earlier this year but he had reassured her that he was only gauging what teachers were "in the market''.

Bermuda Union of Teachers president Milton Scott said legislation allowed Mrs.

Philip to compete equally with Bermudians for jobs because she was married to a Bermudian.

He said the school had terminated her employment as if she was under a contract which was wrong so a lawyer had been working on the matter since May.

Mrs. Phillip alleged that she was fired because she had spoken out against internal problems the school was experiencing such as a lack of academic success and student violence.

She said her Bermudian husband was studying at law school so she might have to return to Guadeloupe with their two children as she was out of work.