The Editor, Sir:

The Letter Of The Day in The Gleaner, dated February 21, written by an apparently frightened, callous or desperate Nadia Jones, ought to cause wailing and gnashing of teeth throughout the nation, not at all against her personally, but in objection to the thought of teachers in battle dress, trained in karate and equipped to exchange gun-fire with children and ignorant parents in schools. May we never live to see such a calamity.

In earlier times, not too long ago, incidents with problem children and ignorant parents were dealt with discretely and without fanfare. And, of course, there were reform schools from which many problem children emerged as decent, law-abiding and useful citizens.

There was an age when misconduct in schools was never reported by the media. Today, newsmen eagerly await such misconduct in order to sensationalise it.

Newsmen could do this country a very great and healthy service by refraining from adding sordid news of schools to the plethora of obnoxious news they daily feed our nation. Glamorising violent behaviour on television, on radio and in song paradoxically leads to more bad conduct.

On the other hand, our denouncement of violent conduct is woefully weak. Public reproach is abysmally weak, vapid and lackadaisical.

There is no strong national outcry. The authorities which we have empowered to seek and implement effective and harsh corrective measures are inconsistent, over-lenient, lacking in courage and resources and are for too long partially inert.

immediate action

I agree with the minister of education that every serious offence in school must be reported to the police for immediate action, and be treated as a crime.

I go beyond that: Every serious school offender under 18 years of age must be tried in a juvenile court. Confinement of the 'troubled or problem' child for no fewer than two years in a rehabilitative institution should be mandatory, to be followed by not less than one year of probationary supervision. If the parents (or parent) can afford it, they should be required to pay boarding costs. Otherwise, the state ought to provide.

Principals, in conjunction with teachers, guidance counsellors, parent(s) and school boards, should be on the alert for disruptive or troubled children and be mandated to remove such children to a safe place for proper recovery.

Each rehabilitative centre must be adequately equipped to provide qualified and quality care, nutrition, affection, development of self-esteem, nurturing of sense of moral and social responsibility, of respect for person, property and of culture and a love for work.

This course should be allocated a substantial amount in the annual budget. It is incumbent on the state to assist every child to determine its future as a useful and law-abiding person.

Far from enough is being done for post-secondary children. The National Youth Service needs reorganising with adequate funding. Adequate grants instead of loans need to be provided for indigent youth aspiring to training in HEART.

One of the many causes of youth violence is the bleak and frustrating prospect of not gaining a livelihood after school. There must not be only job creation, but life-skills and trades training, and career guidance, must become more positive and substantive. We must swiftly advance beyond the parameters of 'sample' training and 'sample' production.

mandatory sentence

Adults violently invading school premises must arbitrarily be arrested and brought before the court, and be given a mandatory sentence of no fewer than 30 days for each offence.

During incarceration, the offender must undergo a course of good parenting and conflict resolution. Government must now implement a regular and comprehensive public education media programme to educate the nation on family planning, parenting and social conduct.

Get cultural organisers, dramatists, music artistes and church groups involved. Modern youth need to be taught 'di ole time' religion and not 'bling-bling' nor dancehall as the guiding core of living decently and creatively under God.

It is a tragedy that modern school curricula afford but little or no time for sound religious and moral training throughout the entire school. I dare say, as well, that the bulk of Jamaican teachers are uncertain whether they can inculcate, or are not morally and spiritually qualified to impart religious and moral values to the children they teach.

I am, etc.,

OREN O. COUSINS

(Retired school principal)