THE EDITOR, Sir:

As a past student of the Camperdown High School and an administrator myself, after seeing and hearing of the event that took place at that school recently, I am convinced that we are raising a nation of 'sketels'.

Seeing the behaviour of those girls on television leaves much to be desired. Is it any wonder they cannot, when they leave school, find gainful employment and if they do, look at the establishments they often end up working?

If one were to examine or check the background of the students who were sent home and of those who were so 'proudly' protesting on television, you would find that they are under no real parental guidance and their values and attitudes have been totally eroded. Family stability is lacking and often the parents they have are competing neck and neck with the type of clothing for which they were reprimanded for wearing to school.

Parents allowing them

I find that as an administrator in a junior high school, the same problem is being experienced and if we are not steadfast and resolute, these kids and, in many instances, their parents will want to allow them to come to school as if they were attending 'Passa Passa' with all the bling they can hang on their bodies.

I can recall a recent incident when a parent came to school and was livid that her child of not more than 10 years old was told to take the weave out of her hair, proclaiming that she had just spent thousands of dollars to have it put in; our school rules state clearly no extensions are allowed.

Sad to say these are the same girls who later in life bear offspring and turn them loose on society with the same kind of depravity they displayed in their youth.

Though I am happy that there seemed to be no male students caught up in the fray, nevertheless they pose a challenge also, as we have to struggle with them and their 'tights', the 'Wonder Woman' belt buckle, the earrings, the shirts out of their pants and the manner in which they wear their school ties.

As administrators, we need to stand our ground and not allow a few unruly students to try to overrun the school like the few criminal elements who are wreaking havoc in our society.

I am, etc.,

NOEL A. PENNANT

P.O. Box 92

Windward Road P.O.

Kingston 2.

'Sketels' has negative connotations deriving from the dancehall culture.