Some of the items taken from students of Kingston College during a search at the school's Melbourne campus in Kingston yesterday. - Ian Allen/Staff Photographer

At first glance, the grade-eight students at Kingston College's Melbourne campus looked a well-behaved bunch during yesterday's devotion exercise.

However, a closer look showed that not all of them were.

Three knives, almost one dozen scissors and a small parcel of ganja valued about $20 were among the items taken from the 13- and 14-year-olds during a search by the police following the devotion.

The police had been invited to conduct the search by the administration of the school, which is determined to crack down on the carrying of offensive weapons and other acts of indiscipline by boys at the school.

Preventative measures

Marguerita Hall, vice-principal in charge of the campus, had invited the cops as part of preventative measures aimed at avoiding some of the deadly conflicts reported at other schools.

She was supported by the grade teachers, who made sure the boys cooperated with the police.

At the end of the near hour-long exercise, the cops gave high marks to the school, despite the weapons found.

"It wasn't bad, based on what we found and what we have found at some other schools. It appears that most of the boys are following the rules," Inspector Tomilee Chambers told The Gleaner.

"For the rest of this week and the period leading up to Champs (Boys and Girls Athletics Championship) we will be going to other schools in the Kingston Eastern Police Division to conduct similar searches," said Chambers, who is a member of the community safety and security division.

Yesterday's search at Kingston College came less than 24 hours after the arrest of two students of the Marcus Garvey Technical High School in St Ann.

One of the schoolboys, a 14-year-old, was reportedly found with a home-made handgun in his school bag. The other boy, a 13-year-old, was allegedly found with several parcels of ganja and a pair of scissors in his bag.

School violence has been a growing problem over recent months with several major incidents, including the killing of students.

arthur.hall@gleanerjm.com