Dear Editor,

It is painfully obvious to me as an educator that drugs, alcohol, gambling, and sexual addiction play a significant part in the maladaptive behaviour of our students.

It is no secret that children who are exposed to drugs, alcohol, gambling and sex at an early age are at higher risk of developing mental health problems, including depression, behavioural problems, personality disorder, suicidal thoughts, and other deviant behaviour.

The violence and indiscipline being displayed by our children at school is a cry for help. Our students are acting out the general breakdown of family life in the homes and an absence of leadership in the different spheres of national life.

The parents of today as well as the community members have failed our children.

If you go into any town centre during and after school hours, invariably you will see schoolchildren as young as 12 years old loitering in corners, smoking, gambling, or proped up in inappropriate sexual positions. The tone and contents of their conversations devalue and disgrace their uniforms. I could go on and on about their behaviour on the road and on public transportation — the lewd music accompanied by the “lapping up” of the male and female students.

The education ministry has not been able to put an effective programme together to address these problems, which are not new but have got progressively worse over the years. It is my humble opinion that the ministry needs to urgently reimagine the Safe Schools Programme, which is currently in need of strengthening and upgrade.

There needs to be a cadre of psychologists, social workers, and specially trained police officers and soldiers assigned to the different regions orchestrating behaviour modification camps to treat with these social and behavioural problems among our students. A national mentorship and apprenticeship programme coupled with some parenting seminars within our schools are also necessary to help halt the erosion of discipline and appropriate behaviour in our schools.

As educators most of us were not trained and are not equipped to deal with the level of violence and dysfunctionality of some of our students today. When students come to school pumped up with all manner of drugs and decide that they are untouchable, it presents great challenges for us as educators.

Many school officials would prefer to downplay the disciplinary crisis in our schools for fear of the school becoming stigmatised and negatively branded. However, we cannot conquer what we are not willing to openly confront. I appreciate the anti-violence campaign recently launched by the Education Minister Fayval Williams. However, I don’t think it goes far enough to achieve the desired results.

I know it takes cash to care, but if we are going to rescue our children and save our society, we have to care that much to find the cash.

Please note that the views I expressed are my personal position and not necessarily that of my employer or any other associated body.

Andre A O Wellington

Dean of discipline

andrewellington344@yahoo.com