Dear Editor,

In a time when schools across Jamaica are struggling with disciplinary issues, Holland High School in Trelawny decided to mitigate these issues by focusing on developing core values among students. The institution, since its inception, has been focusing on the development core values in its students. As such, during September the school hosted what is called Esprit de Corps, which is really the commitment of a group, united in the pursuit of a common mission.

At Holland High School, we see the need to celebrate Esprit de Corps because of self-sacrifice on the part of members of staff, the unity of the administrators, and the board of management as they unite in their quest to empower every member of staff. Our core values are always being reinforced and communicated, as such, it was a shared view that there must be a specially organised event to celebrate these values.

For Esprit de Corps to be fully emphasised and encouraged, students were assigned a core value and were expected to use creative means to demonstrate it. The core values include respect, love, honesty, truth, peace and loyalty. Students were, indeed, creative; from forming the shape of a heart to represent the value of love to students forming each letter of their core value.

Significantly, in a world largely under attack by warped values, there must be a concerted thrust to get members of the school family to shun what is immoral, illegal, illicit, and pernicious. We must remain a beacon of hope amidst the prevailing threat of negativity.

It is against this background that I believe that schools across Jamaica must also create an environment wherein the above-mentioned values, and if not those, then similar, are emphasised and encouraged on a daily basis. Schools are encouraged to act as a family, and create and sustain bonds established by the adhesive of genuine care and human sensitivity.

It is not time to give up on our students, but to continue to encourage them and to instil positive values in them and, as such, achieve the ultimate goal of creating well rounded citizens. I am imploring all schools in Jamaica to develop a system of activities wherein students are engaged in the development of core values.

If we truly want to our students “to work diligently and creatively, to think generously and honestly, so that Jamaica may, under God, increase in beauty, fellowship and prosperity, and play her part in advancing the welfare of the whole human race”, then we must do whatever in our powers to ensure that these values are learnt and practised by our students.

Martin Luther King, Jr, said: “Intelligence plus character — that is the goal of true education.”

Kenroy Davis

Teacher, Holland High School

kenroy.davis20@gmail.com