We’re always quick to point to poor parenting each time there is an outbreak of school violence, but it’s time to confront an uncomfortable truth — poor parenting is just one piece of the puzzle.

Sure, we cannot deny that parents who neglect to instil discipline, empathy, and conflict resolution skills in their children leave them more susceptible to resorting to violence as a means of resolving disputes or asserting dominance. Poor parenting can foster an environment in which violence thrives.

However, placing the blame solely on parents overlooks the broader societal context in which school violence occurs.

Following last week’s beat-down between high schoolers in Half-Way-Tree, and the school stabbing death of an Irwin High School student, we’re again having urgent discussions about the root causes of violence, and potential solutions.

It is easy, as we have said, to point fingers at negligent parents to absolve our collective conscience of guilt. However, until we acknowledge and address the reality that the society as a whole bears significant responsibility for creating an environment in which violence thrives, our efforts to combat the problem will fall short.

No one can successfully challenge that the glorification of violence, corruption, indecency, and back-door dealings across the society breeds a culture of aggression that is often seen as a means of asserting power and dominance.

Children are not born violent; they live what they learn. When they are bombarded by images of violence in movies, video games, and music; when they witness violence in their communities, on public transportation, on social media; when they are constantly surrounded by aggression, misery, and lawlessness, it’s no wonder that some turn to violence as a means of coping or seeking validation.

Our schools, too, are not immune to the influence of societal ills. Too many of them are poorly funded, overstretched and overwhelmed, resulting in them struggling to provide the support and resources that students from varying backgrounds, with varying needs, should have in order to thrive.

Overcrowded classrooms, lack of mental health services, and inadequate and suspended conflict resolution programmes only exacerbate the problem.

Add to that data from the United Nations Children’s Fund two years ago showing that, prior to the novel coronavirus pandemic, violence was widespread in certain schools across Jamaica, with one out of every three students involved in a physical fight, and one in four being bullied.

We cannot expect parents to single-handedly counteract the toxic messages and influences that bombard children on a daily basis. It’s time for us to take a hard look in the mirror and ask ourselves what kind of world we are creating for our children. Are we teaching them empathy, respect, and compassion? Or are we perpetuating a cycle of violence, misery, and aggression?

To truly address school violence we must attend to the root causes. This means challenging the status quo, holding media, entertainers, leaders, and others accountable for the messages they promote, and investing in our schools and communities.

We reiterate that all well-thinking Jamaicans need to take ownership of this issue and work together to create safer and more nurturing environments for our children.