Mcgill

Students starting the first year at a secondary institution are far less likely to carry a weapon to school than those previously enrolled. These are findings from the 2005 Jamaican Youth Resiliency Behaviour Survey, sponsored by the United States Agency for International Development and reported on in March 2007.

The survey, which had a natio-nally representative sample of more than 3,000 students, between the ages of 10 and 15 years, reported that the likelihood of a student taking a weapon to school increased significantly after age 13 years. The survey also noted that "significantly more boys than girls were involved" in the practice.

No surprise

Marriage and family counsellor, Dr Sydney McGill, commenting on the findings of the survey, said this did not come as a surprise as boys at this stage were vulnerable, and early intervention was critical.

McGill continued: "The boys do not have very personal examples of what it means to be a man. And that is something they have, the challenge of deciding by themselves, having no reference as to what a good enough man is."

As a result, McGill said they would in turn tend to emulate behaviours in their environment associated with the manliness. In most cases, there is a high probability that this includes the display of risky and antisocial behaviours.

McGill, also the founder of the Coalition in Support of Adolescent Leadership Training (C-SALT), an intervention initiative aimed at boys aged 11-13 years, said heigh-tened interest must be emphasised in reaching out to the boys between these ages.

"The project grew out of a desire to have a structured leadership mentoring programme that would partner with parents, schools and communities to develop boys spiritually, physically, mentally and socially ... and currently we cater to almost 400 boys," he said.

He noted that in fostering positive change in the wider society, it should become everyone's mandate to positively impact on "boys to become men who are keepers of commitments, strong and decisive leaders, good workers and secure men of purpose."