Dear Editor,

In the face of what happened recently with the Edwin Allen High School students and teacher, which has been creating a stir in the education system and our wider community, many may call for blood. It may seem like the right thing to do, in light of public opinion, to use the full force of the Education Regulations to discipline the students. But I caution the administration to set the right tone for far-reaching positive effects.

Teachers are disrespected every day, even in worse ways than that which was shown on social media. Let’s not sensationalise what happened.

Indiscipline is a major problem in this country and, might I say, the world. We must not take an isolated approach in dealing with this particular infraction, and we should not be shocked because we already know the magnitude. Thanks to social media for showing us what we already know and have failed to deal with. Yes, that’s how bad it is Minister Fayval Williams. Now you are reminded of the mammoth challenges that our teachers face and the great work you have to do in legislating policies to help this volatile sector.

The behaviour of our students are rotten and adults are the cause — the home, the church, the school, the community, the Government. You know what needs to be done to create and maintain discipline, but you don’t do it. You beat around the bush; you send mixed signals and the children know that you are jokers. The wherewithal rests with you, but you bury your heads in the sand until you see an escalation. And the children who are the perpetrators, caught in this one incident, are used as a scapegoats and made an example of, while you ignored a myriad indisciplined behaviour.

So now that we understand the root of the problem a little bit better, we may be able to see clearly the approach we should take in this case.

I suggest that this situation be handled in a very careful, empathetic, and patient manner. An approach that wants to correct the behaviour of the students rather than to adopt punitive measures may be very impactful for our society in general.

In fact, how the school’s administration chooses to deal with this problem may provide a model for other schools as this pattern of deviant behaviour is not unique to Edwin Allen High School.

The powers that be now have an opportunity to test behaviour change strategies and employ corrective training to rehabilitate rather than punish. What punishment does is give what seems to be deserving, but does it transform? Does it offer a better way? Does it guarantee a different action the next time?

Do not suspend the students!

Give them a chance to understand what they did, why it was wrong, and how to act in the future. The behaviour of the students may have been triggered. Find out what triggered them and how we can address the factors that led to such unfortunate actions. Teach them how to manage their feelings and emotions. Teach them the accepted standards of behaviour. I could go on and on. We have work to do.

Engage their parents. Let the guidance counselling team create interventive programmes for the students. Let them use the same social media platforms to apologise for their behaviour. Recreate their classroom setting and allow them to correct their action, and so on.

Our aim is to engender the right attitude in our children and to create great men and women for tomorrow.

Our children are beautiful; they just need our love and guidance.

Marie T Henry

Clarendon

bchild862@gmail.com