Dear Editor,
Over the years, a number of our schools have been plagued by violence. While many of the reported violent onslaughts have been between students, in recent times, our teachers have also become caught in the crossfire.
Many of our schools are no longer institutions solely for learning, but are instead battlefields for students who have developed into menacing goons. Consequently, drastic measures must be employed to ensure that our teachers and other law-abiding students are protected.
I am happy that Clayton Hall, president of the Jamaica Teachers' Association, has cautioned teachers not to get physically involved in quelling fights between students. However, the Ministry of Education and other relevant stakeholders must now examine more intense measures to combat the sporadic outbreaks of violence in our schools.
Thankfully, Minister Thwaites has intensified the reformation process by seeking to enlist police constables as the deans of discipline in our schools. Nevertheless, more needs to be done. Consider military training and improved insurance coverage for teachers. Teaching has become too risky to undermine the relevance and import of such coverage.
Additionally, tighter security measures must be implemented in all schools. We cannot wait until there is a violent outbreak at a particular school before we take action. We must be proactive in our approach. Therefore, all students and teachers in all schools must be searched before entering the compound. Visitors must also be thoroughly searched, as too many relatives of students have barged onto school campuses and have waged attacks against teachers. Metal detectors and full-body scanners could be used to facilitate and expedite this daily search procedure.
We must also ensure that all schools are properly fenced or secured by high-rise walls in order to prevent any trespassing or unauthorised entry on the campus.
Furthermore, behaviour modification programmes must be developed and implemented to gradually transform the behaviour of students who have been identified as violent and disruptive.
Conflict resolution skills must also be taught at every level of our school system so that students can learn to resolve disputes without ever becoming physical or violent.
Minister Thwaites, these investments and developments may be expensive, but teachers and students cannot function effectively in any environment in which their safety is threatened. Security is a fundamental human need and so we must move steadfast in making sure that this need is satisfied.
Shawna Kay Williams
PRO, Mico Guild of Students
Shawna201@gmail.com
Fight Back
-->
Over the years, a number of our schools have been plagued by violence. While many of the reported violent onslaughts have been between students, in recent times, our teachers have also become caught in the crossfire.
Many of our schools are no longer institutions solely for learning, but are instead battlefields for students who have developed into menacing goons. Consequently, drastic measures must be employed to ensure that our teachers and other law-abiding students are protected.
I am happy that Clayton Hall, president of the Jamaica Teachers' Association, has cautioned teachers not to get physically involved in quelling fights between students. However, the Ministry of Education and other relevant stakeholders must now examine more intense measures to combat the sporadic outbreaks of violence in our schools.
Thankfully, Minister Thwaites has intensified the reformation process by seeking to enlist police constables as the deans of discipline in our schools. Nevertheless, more needs to be done. Consider military training and improved insurance coverage for teachers. Teaching has become too risky to undermine the relevance and import of such coverage.
Additionally, tighter security measures must be implemented in all schools. We cannot wait until there is a violent outbreak at a particular school before we take action. We must be proactive in our approach. Therefore, all students and teachers in all schools must be searched before entering the compound. Visitors must also be thoroughly searched, as too many relatives of students have barged onto school campuses and have waged attacks against teachers. Metal detectors and full-body scanners could be used to facilitate and expedite this daily search procedure.
We must also ensure that all schools are properly fenced or secured by high-rise walls in order to prevent any trespassing or unauthorised entry on the campus.
Furthermore, behaviour modification programmes must be developed and implemented to gradually transform the behaviour of students who have been identified as violent and disruptive.
Conflict resolution skills must also be taught at every level of our school system so that students can learn to resolve disputes without ever becoming physical or violent.
Minister Thwaites, these investments and developments may be expensive, but teachers and students cannot function effectively in any environment in which their safety is threatened. Security is a fundamental human need and so we must move steadfast in making sure that this need is satisfied.
Shawna Kay Williams
PRO, Mico Guild of Students
Shawna201@gmail.com
Fight Back
-->