Wendel Abel

There have been several distressing reports of school violence in Jamaica in recent weeks. This is a topic that has been discussed many times in this column. The reality is that we like to talk about our problems but, we do not like to fix them.

Among the many factors contributing to violence among the youth are antisocial behaviour, carrying of weapons, involvement in gangs, exposure to violence, high unemployment and living in deprived and disadvantaged communities.

Antisocial behaviour

In 1997, a study conducted among Jamaican school children, aged 10 to 18 years, revealed that 51 per cent of them reported antisocial behaviour, 22 per cent carried weapons and 17 per cent had been involved in a gang. This study also revealed that males, older children and those who were physically abused were more likely to carry weapons to school and to be involved in gangs.

High levels of exposure to violence

Equally distressing is the high levels of exposure of our young people to violence. A studyby Joan Shaw among local students revealed that 66.7 per cent knew of a community member who died from violence; 80 per cent had witnessed street violence; 60 per cent had witnessed gang war; 60 per cent had witnessed gun shooting; 74 per cent had witnessed stabbing and 40 per cent had witnessed killing by the police.

A permissive society

This society has a permissive attitude toward violence. It is overexposed and sensationalised in the media as well as glamorised and perpetuated in our popular music and culture. Are we then surprised at the high levels of youth violence? The grim reality is that children live what they learn.

The dreadful inner city

Life in our inner city is rough and tough. These communities are disorganised; in many homes, family life is diminished and there is high exposure to crime and easy access to guns.

The dismal failure of our educational system

Greater emphasis needs to be placed on life skills training in our schools. The time has come for a major overhaul of our curriculum. The school has to support our failing family system and community.

Addressing the problem

Scores of students of the Kingston Technical High School on Hanover Street, downtown Kingston, last week, mill around the schoolyard after a fight at the school left at least four boys nursing stab wounds. Classes were suspended for the day. - Winston Sill/Freelance Photographer

There is an urgent need for us to address these problems:

1. Target at-risk children and their families. Children living in vulnerable communities where they are exposed to high levels of crime and violence are at risk. As part of an inner-city regeneration programme, we need to support agencies and churches, working in vulnerable communities, to put in place family enrichment programmes and mount specific programmes to target children who are at risk. I appeal to funding agencies such National Health Fund, The CHASE Fund and the Environmental Foundation of Jamaica to prioritise these programmes.

2. Life skills development. Any effective programme should focus on protective life skills development. There is an urgent need to build more life skills in our school curriculum at all levels. Life skills include problem-solving skills, moral reasoning and anger management in order to shift the normative beliefs about the use of aggression.

3. Emphasis on family development. We need to develop parenting skills and to enrich family life by strengthening closeness in families, fostering communication and promoting emotional cohesion.

4. Less media violence. The media glamorise violence and promote the normative use of aggression. As a society, we need to make greater demands on the media to reduce exposure to violence.

5. Intervention services for youth at risk. We need to establish more child guidance services islandwide and to expand the current services. Currently the waiting period for these services is about two months.