Dear Editor,

The following is an open letter to the Minister of Education Dr Dana Morris Dixon.

Minister Dixon, thank you for your excellent diplomacy in facilitating discussions to favourably resolve the issue of Spice’s Oh No School Tour with the various stakeholders. The fire has been lit on what is truly negative and immoral in our society. These vices need not be reflected in the education system.

The Office of the Children’s Advocate must also be applauded for its comprehensive rescue of the young. I wish to submit further measures that can be immediately implemented to restore strong principles of decency to our youth and beloved Jamaica.

1) Thorough policing of all vehicles that transport children to educational facilities and removal of all lewd songs and videos. They are disturbing to the eyes, ears, and soul.

2) Implementation of an islandwide school bus system to take our children safely to school.

3) Withdrawal of several school texts that violate the Child Protection Act, mirroring current United States executive orders. This must be done in conjunction with the Caribbean Examinations Council. Literature texts should be especially scrutinised, because even Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet can be viewed as a template for activating youth suicide.

4) The Internet has been installed in schools with firewalls to prevent students accessing adult content on school premises. This action deserves the highest praise.

5) A national standardised uniform must now be mandatory for all teachers. It would be cost effective for the educators. This measure ensures easy identification of teachers as a uniformed group, like the police and army, and it would be an effective control step to establish the authority of the teacher.

6) All content to be taught must be reviewed by the clergy, school boards, and parent associations. Cameras should be placed in classrooms to record educators compliance, or lack thereof, with guidelines.

7) All schools must have increased security presence to ensure adherence to a strict code of conduct.

8)Textbooks, technology, and other support resources must be provided to academic staff to ensure excellent outcomes.

9) A special programme must be implemented for educators facing poverty, homelessness, and poor nutrition. This as empty bags cannot stand up.

10) The Ministry of Education should ensure that school administrators and boards continue the superb job of retrofitting school buildings with ramps, elevators, air-conditioning units, and lights to provide equal opportunity for the physically or otherwise challenged students and all levels of staff in the system.

11) The Ward Theatre on King Street, downtown Kingston, would be the best location as an academy for wayward students who do not conform.

I hope you will find these suggestions useful.

Ul Jem

jem.ul@yahoo.com