MONTEGO BAY, St James -The Calvary Baptist Church’s Reverend Everton Jackson yesterday challenged the nation to counter the negative values he said were emanating from the local media, area dons and musical icons.

Jackson suggested that the education system be used to steer the society’s youth away from “regrettable choices”, through a moral agenda.

“Our choices are influenced by our values… there is a high price to be paid for the wrong choices in life… Our choices must stand up to the test of wisdom,” he told the congregation that turned up at the church service to commemorate the 110th anniversary of Cornwall College for boys in this north coast city.

“If we are going to help our young people to make the right choices in this society, the home, the church and the school must work in partnership in offering moral education…The thrust of the education system cannot just be cognitive. It has to be behavioural as well, Jackson preached.

“We must teach our young people the moral skills to make responsible decisions relative to their sexuality, inter-personal relationships and general conduct and behaviour,” he said.

The theme of Jackson’s message echoed that delivered earlier at the St James Parish Church by the Reverend Canon Justin Nembhard to the Herbert Morrison Technical High school which is commemorating its 30th anniversary.

Rev Nembhard encouraged his congregation to search for the right, rather than the easiest way in its journey towards excellence.