THE issue of violence in Jamaican schools is always a controversial matter. Principals feel that if it is discussed publicly it will smear their schools and hence lower their ratings. This is so especially of the ‘brand name’ schools.

Some administrators deny that a problem exists in their school and so fail to seek help until it’s almost too late, a crisis develops such as a murder, stabbing or their school is under siege.

We all know that schools are microcosms of the wider society. Violence is endemic in the society and by extension the schools. In some schools, gang-related violence results when students gravitate around a ‘bad-man’ for protection.

The school may be turf for the distribution of hard drugs and so it becomes fertile ground for ‘turf war’ between various groups. Individual students who seek to ‘copycat’ the dons in the community often claim that they ‘run things’ in the school.

Learn their tricks

School rules state that students should not carry weapons such as guns and knives but students still carry knives to ‘defend’ themselves.

When schools carry out frequent searches, students resort to disguising weapons, so you may see an innocent-looking piece of stick and if your were to pull the ends apart you will realise that a sharpened piece of steel is hidden.

Some students are prone to violence given the way they were socialised. If they are under threat and they cannot ‘defend it’ they get outside help and this often results in stabbings taking place inside or outside the school, depending on the level of security at the school.

It was not until I had a discussion with two boys recently that I fully understood what goes on in the mind of some of our violent students.

The conversation began like this: “‘Princie’, we woulda like ‘fe gi you a talk’.”

From the ensuing discussion, I learnt that when a student survives the disciplinary processes in the school system and survives the interrogation by the police, his or her ratings rises in the underworld of the school.

This is a dramatic lesson as to why we should not use draconian measures.

Students are ingenious in hiding weapons and these are not brought to school for friendly purposes but are used when the opportunity presents itself.

Most of the fights I have seen in schools among girls tend to be over men – the struggle for economic benefits. In most cases these are taxi-men.

Girls have been known to have gunmen for protection. Boys who are unable to articulate well, often respond violently when ‘dissed’ by girls, resulting in girls being kicked and boxed. Boys who smoke marijuana and beat girls would tell you that these things happen at home, that is, they see their fathers do these things.

Since the schools are now developing a policy of zero tolerance against indiscipline much of the ‘war’ among students now takes place outside of the precincts of the school.

Inter-school violence often takes place where students from different schools congregate. Sporting events and the bus stops are fertile areas for these incidents. On many occasions, I have had to intervene in disputes between the students of my school and that of another school.

Many problems could have been easily solved if principals attend football matches or check the streets in the afternoons after school.

‘Remote control’ and ‘barrel’ children

When I look at the data taken from the suspension book, it reveals that over 90 per cent of the students suspended are boys.

These are often boys who live on their own, that is survive by the money from Western Union and live by the ‘barrel’.

In the school system, teachers often refer to these children as ‘remote control’ children. These students often have difficulty in responding to the authority at school as they see themselves as their own authority.

It is also not a surprise to find students from the same homes and with common parents involved in disciplinary altercations. The data also shows that it is mainly the students from the slower grades who are prone to violence.

Geographical location was not necessarily a factor in identifying these students.

Strange as it may sound I have come across cases where it is alleged that some violent students are possessed with demons.

One girl would immediately become possessed if she is near a fight and a deep male voice would be heard when she spoke, her facial features would also change. She would become violent and threaten to kill and was difficult to restrain.

There are often cases where violent behaviour results from teachers treating students with disrespect. The younger, more inexperienced, teachers are always tested by students.

Their response is always to use force and insult to protect their pride. The students also want protect their pride and tend to react boisterously to being ‘dissed’.

Implement changes

In concluding I suggest the following:

. We must reclaim our schools. We should find new and innovative ways of doing the old things in order to make school interesting for students. Schools must be safe havens and home away from home;

. Develop forums for self- expression and use good ideas from students to develop policies, let them claim ownership of these policies;

. Build a strong student government with real election by their peers and not selection by teachers;

. Deal immediately with issues that will affect your students’ self-concept;

. Meet with students regularly and address their concerns seriously and make your policies and administration student- friendly;

. Highlight innovations and groundbreaking discoveries by students;

. Celebrate their successes;

. Develop systems of incentives;

. Continue to network with other schools that have dealt with the problem successfully;

. Give students opportunities to solve problems;

. Take action against teachers who physically and verbally abuse students

. Develop an open door policy so that students can approach you when they are in difficulties.