Armed men invade Meadowbrook High
Teacher stabbed, four students robbed
BY COREY ROBINSON Observer staff reporter robinsonc@jamaicaobserver.com
Friday, March 19, 2010
A teacher was stabbed and injured yesterday and four students robbed by armed men who barged onto the compound of Meadowbrook High School in St Andrew about midday.
Police said last night that the injured staff member, said to be a physical education teacher, was in a serious but stable condition.
According to a female student four men, wielding knives and machetes, climbed over a section of the rear perimeter fence, entered a Grade 11 classroom and demanded that the students hand over their valuables.
"They just went into the classroom and start demanding that the students give them their money and things just like that. Everybody frightened, everybody 'fraid for their lives," she said.
"Them run out with about two laptops, a computer game and some flash drives and other things," continued the student.
The teacher, the student told the Observer, was stabbed after he made an effort to prevent one of the bandits from escaping. The thief, however, was grabbed by other staff members and was later handed over to the police.
The police confirmed that the man was handed over to them but did not give details.
Students stormed out of their classes into the schoolyard following the incident. Some openly expressed feelings of insecurity, disappointment and anger, as they waited to be dismissed for the day.
Four male students who were later identified by police as victims of the robbery, were taken in a service truck to the Constant Spring Police Station, where they were expected to make a formal report.
Panicked parents, including reggae singer Luciano, turned up at the school gate to get their children. Some of the parents got involved in verbal clashes with security guards, who insisted that they had to be patient in getting their children.
Winsome Reid, principal of the institution, declined to speak with reporters yesterday, but according to some students the incident could be related to an ongoing rivalry between students of Meadowbrook and another school.
"We cannot confirm that, but that is one of the reports made to us. Once a report is made the police have no choice but to investigate it," said Deputy Superintendent Altermoth 'Parra' Campbell, anti-crime boss for the St Andrew North Division.
 
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3/20/2010
I wonder how this can be addressed by the authorities and law enforcement... It seem the police force needs to be beefed up with something called "school patrol" because how else will incidents like these be prevented?
I'm sure the school can't afford an army of security gaurds, or for that matter - one of those security services like Gaurdsman - even if they could they'd have to pass those costs onto the students/parents where people can hardly afford school fees already.
I find it difficult to believe that this is due to some 'feud' with another school... The society is devolving into such a level of anarchy that these cowards (because these aren't men) are choosing easy pickings - students who come school wid dem lunch money, bus fare, an dem learning tools (like laptops), and dem cell phone! What kind of disgusting society are we nurturing?
Wi need fi change supp'm an wi need fi do it faas...
3/19/2010
As a past student of the school,,I am horrified and disturbed of the attack on this noble institution. Schools should be safe zones where teaching and learning can occur without students and teachers thinking about their safety. Gone are those days I guess !,,now our schools are at the mercy of thugs,,our schools are now exhiting the same signs as the society in general. Crime and violence have overtaken our society.
3/19/2010
Serious but stable condition......are you sure about that....are you even sure that a physical education teacher or any other teacher was stabbed.....PLEASE CHECK YOUR FACTS
3/19/2010
Now they are terrorising our students..What next?? One Jam I couldn't agree with you more. Before reading the article, I thought these students were involved in the robbery.
3/19/2010
It seems as if the kids are the ones in trouble. Why do victims (especially kids) have to go to the station to give their report ?
Just gets worse and worse, while Nero (ooops .. Bruce) fiddles away.
3/19/2010
Where the hell is the Natational Security Minister with his draconian measures for gangs (as if all criminals are in one of these known gangs). Well today is March 19th so I guess he does have until March 31st as he said this will be done this March.
This is really sad, how can students concentrate in class while thinking if they will be the next victims to these scumbags?
None of these politicians (PNP or JLP) cares about reducing crime, they only continue to chat chat and more chat.
What's so hard in implementing lashes for all level of crime committed except murder? Hang the murderers and put licks on others for theft, rape, fraud, corruption, attempted murder, possession of an illegal weapon and aiding & abetting. What's so hard in doing this?
3/19/2010
How can the gov't defend the citizens of Jamaica when the gov't itself is defending and protecting the same criminal (Don) who sends his thieves and murderers out amongst the people to create a life of fear and violence.
3/19/2010
MHS is my Old School. Never had violence there back in the Days.
Anyway I am still appealing to the JDF to overthrow the Government!!
3/19/2010
couldnt they take the kids in a service car and not a truck back. gosh . the first thing impression on peoples mind seeing them in truck back would be they are law breakers.
3/19/2010
Our politicians don’t care about us. If they care about crime they would do something about it. Nothing has been done about crime in a long time in Jamaica; they have all played lip service about it.
3/19/2010
Mr Nelson has identified 268 criminal gangs identified operating in Jamaica, but all talking and nothing is being done.
When crime come knocking on politician's door, then they will act.
3/19/2010
Our country is in terrible state when our criminals are turning on our children. A mean this is a fast growing trend where criminals are breaching school peripheries to antagonies our children. the governemnt must seriously look into this matter and provide some form of remedies before it get worse. What is wrong with our society? We are just too wicked to each other for no tangible reason. Is not that we have some history of war like in Israel or Iraq. We just fight and performed criminal acts against each other ever day.
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