MONTEGO BAY, St James — Though supporting the reintroduction of civics in the school curriculum, principal of Muschett High School Leighton Johnson believes that it cannot be the “end-all” to the country’s fight against lawlessness.

“Civics education in schools cannot be the end-all. It is a step in the right direction and is something that can help but we need all the external agencies that complement schools to be efficient in their operations,” Johnson told the Jamaica Observer.

He continued, “If we have systems within a society that create criminals, we need to ensure that those systems are eradicated. We also have to ensure as much as possible that as we implement this curriculum we are also fixing those systems — because if they are not fixed then the curriculum will go nowhere. The curriculum will not be able to fulfill the objectives if the systems that created the criminals and make people act unlawfully still exist.”

Minister of Education and Youth Fayval Williams, in addressing the official launch ceremony for the National Standards Curriculum at all levels last week, said the reintroduction of civics comes out of deep concern regarding the levels of incivility and lack of respect for self, others, and authority that continue to be displayed across the country.

By adding it to the curriculum students will come to “comprehend the pride, dignity and the seriousness of being Jamaican”, she noted then.

“Our aim is that the guidelines provided and used by teachers will help to strengthen the foundation for a successful and balanced society in which our people appreciate the rules that govern the relations we have with fellow citizens and our Government,” she stated during the ceremony.

However, the principal, who is also the president-elect for the Jamaica Teachers’ Association (JTA), told the Sunday Observer that the societal issue of inequity must be tackled if Jamaica should ever achieve this goal. He maintained that civics cannot be used as a bandage to cover the much bigger issues causing the high levels of incivility.

“Are we able to eradicate poverty? Is there equity in our society? Is there equity in the educational sector? Is there equity in the distribution of resources? Is there equity in how communities are financed and resourced?” Johnson questioned.

“There needs to be equity across the various sectors. Is it that these people who own the means of production continue to hoard at the expense of others who are trying to get there? How easy is it for business operators to start a business? How lucrative is it for small and medium-sized businesses to be successful in our nation?” he further queried, pointing out that the unequal distribution of wealth and education should be brought into focus, in addition to the reintroduction of civics.

“Until we fix these systems and we get to a place where people or communities are not led or financed by gangs, no amount of civics in our curriculum will alleviate the challenges that we have,” Johnson told the Sunday Observer.

Acknowledging that there have been several recent reports regarding violence in schools, Johnson is hoping that educating youngsters on the value of self-control and how to be good citizens will assist in lessening this occurrence. But the principal noted that the buy-in of other members of society was necessary for the effort to be achieved by the education ministry.

“The reintroduction of civics in the curriculum is a start and, of course, schools do not operate in isolation of the society. School is a microcosm of society so the violence that you see in our space is the same kind of violence that comes into our schools,” he said.

“If we can teach our students the value of self-control, respect for life and property, then we [will] need to get the other socialising agents such as the family, community, and Church to be on the same wavelength with schools. I believe that is when we can start to change and, in the end, it is hoped that we will see a better Jamaica,” Johnson added.

Pointing to the daily statistics and reports of crime, Johnson said it is obvious that many Jamaicans “are no longer patriotic to this country”. The principal said with the country currently experiencing a crime epidemic the increasing lack of civic pride must be acknowledged within multiple dimensions.

“People are of the view that this is a nation that is lawless and [that] we can just go about life without any regard or respect for people’s lives and property,” he told the Sunday Observer.

In the meantime, Johnson is encouraging all Jamaicans, whether students or not, to welcome the reintroduction of civics to the curriculum by wilfully participating. He believes that his experience with civics as a high school student helped to shape his views on the country and what it means to be Jamaican.

“When I was at school in Manchester, civics was a part of the curriculum. I remember using that little red book, I think it is called Civics for young Jamaicans. The lessons from civics education taught me national pride and volunteerism, along with how to respect the national symbols and emblems. It was my immersion in civics that reinforced many of these life skills that I now portray as I lead the school,” he said.