Dear Editor,

I would like to think that with regard to our youth Jamaica has enough problems as it is.

Many of our young men who are enrolled in local secondary schools are now involved in criminal activities such as lottery scamming, murder, and even sexual assault cases. While a high proportion of our young women are prematurely exposed to sexual activities, and are therefore falling victims to teenage pregnancy.

These faults in the system will severely impact the bright and promising future of the Jamaica we all anticipate.

It is time for us to be more responsible in protecting the innocence of our children by allowing them sufficient time to be kids and progress in a timely manner into adulthood.

Our children are overexposed to sexually explicit content and acts of violence and this needs to stop. Parents as well as the school system have a vital role to play in the desired success of this mission.

In recent times recording artiste Marksman, who has recorded a popular single Verified Choppa, has been a familiar face within schools. The entertainer was seen via video footage performing this popular single at quite a few schools for their Jamaica Day celebrations.

Now, I am not against this young man’s music; however, I was very shocked that he was allowed to perform this song at our schools. The song is laden with sexually explicit lyrics, some of which refers to the act of fellatio. Even though these parts of the song were deleted, the students sang along to every word, and this was really disheartening.

If schools are allowing students to be exposed to sexually explicit content, where do we begin our efforts to correct the lapses?

Another observation was at the after party that was held for Champs, where one particular female artiste, Queen Niki, was basically naked on the stage performing. This event was saturated with schoolchildren, who, for the most part, are minors.

What message are we sending to our children?

The irony of the situation is that the artiste was performing a song that spoke to upliftment and ambition, while being almost completely naked. It just didn’t add up.

We have to be more proactive and responsible in allowing our children to be children. We have a responsibility as parents, as teachers, as learning institutions to try our very best to protect their innocence.

Sataja Coke

Mandeville, Manchester

sataja@stu.ncu.edu.jm