The Editor, Sir:

The debate on school violence in this paper, and elsewhere, is biased to say the least.

No meaningful discussion and subsequent solution will be found unless the actions of the other players in education (teachers and the Ministry of Education) are put under the microscope.

In most cases, teachers are the surrogate parents and role models for most of the students they are entrusted with on a daily basis. Most of these children come from dysfunctional homes with single-female parents of very low socio-economic backgrounds. There are often unimaginable cases of child abuse suffered at the hands of family members and strangers alike. The level of violence in the society is well documented.

Against that background then, one would expect that the school community would be a natural sanctuary, where children would feel a sense of security and trust. This trust is now compromised if the very people with this great responsibility are now going to be perpetrators of violence against their own students.

Reprimand

What constitutes a reprimand? This is the term that is being used in the latest cases in Ocho Rios and the Manchester school. If a reprimand means boxing a child because she took too long to comply with your command, then what we are doing now crosses the line and is no longer a disciplinary action but a criminal case of physical assault.

The answer is not teacher boycott of classes, arming teachers, or resigning their jobs as some writers have suggested, but in looking at what constitutes proper conduct and subsequent consequences for both students and teachers.

The Ministry of Education of successive governments has failed, and must be held responsible and culpable for the present state of affairs in the schools as it relates to non-performance and lack of respect among the student population.

This ministry needs to establish policies that will govern each and every institution, and not leave it to individual principals and unelected school boards to make up rules as they go. If the ministry is incapable of managing the vast geographical area, known as Jamaica, then break it apart and form regional school boards. This would bring a level of consistency which is currently lacking in the present system.

It takes a community to raise a child. This community includes the school and the home. Stop the abuse wherever it is happening, every child deserves to be shown kindness and respect, they are only small people.

I am, etc.,

PATRICK ROACH

pgerry2001@yahoo.com

Toronto, Canada

Via Go-Jamaica