Dear Editor,

Last Thursday, while examining the theme ‘Image and Appearance’ with my year-one French students, I recounted to them an experience I lived in high school.

I was in grade 10 at the time. I was entering a classroom and slightly brushed against a grade 11 boy’s Clarks shoes, which he had just used his toothbrush to clean. I could sense the anger and disappointment as there was a sudden shift in the atmosphere; it became very tense. The situation was further triggered by his friends, who tried to encourage him to retaliate through physical altercation. Thankfully, he walked away after I apologised for “greasing” his expensive Clarks. Otherwise, I could have sustained serious injuries or lost my life over a pair of Clarks.

Later that day the country was plunged into sorrow and anger when we learnt that a grade-eight student at BB Coke High School in St Elizabeth was badly beaten because he stepped on a grade 11 student’s Clarks shoes. Many parents on social media expressed great outrage at the situation, saying that they would not have taken light the situation if it were their child who was the victim. Understandably, parents don’t want to hear such unfortunate news when they send their children to school in the mornings.

Given the fact that the lower-school teen almost lost his life, it begs us to ask the question: What’s in a pair of Clarks? Is its value worth far more than life itself? Does it contribute meaningfully to one’s learning? Is it irreplaceable? Is one’s self-worth attached to a pair of shoes or brand of clothing?

Do we see a correlation between Clarks and ‘Dunce’ bags? When and how did the Clarks shoes become popular in our schools? It was during the time of now-incarcerated dancehall artiste Vybz Kartel. Who has promoted the glorification of dunce?

Isn’t it clear that our artistes have become role models for many of these impressionable minds. I had previously warned in this space that, “We should not allow or encourage any behavioural pattern that will promote any further decay in our youth. We may laugh about it today, but tomorrow it will be destructive.”

We appreciate the young men who demonstrated care and good citizenship by transporting their injured schoolmate to get medical attention. They can be compared to the Good Samaritan found in Luke 10.

However, we cannot help but register our anger and disappoint at the lack of equipment in some of our hospitals. The victim had to be transferred from Mandeville to Kingston to do a CT scan. Prime Minister and Health Minister, the country demands more.

Thankfully, it has been reported that the student has been doing better. We pray for a prompt recovery.

By the way, is it now time to ban Clarks shoes in schools?

Oneil Madden

maddenoniel@yahoo.com