Our schools don’t teach or promote violence. There is nothing on the education syllabus that can or should influence our children in this way. It means therefore, that the violent tendencies of our children, more than likely stem from the home and the community. The behaviours we see manifested in our schools and on the streets are really reflections of the delinquency and dysfunction they pick up from within the environments where they live.
As a society, we must take responsibility for what is happening in our schools, because children live what they see. On a daily basis we are teaching our children by example, how to deal with crises and difficult situations. So we teach them how to protest to get what we want, to be defiant to authority and to resolve conflict with violence.
We teach them how the strong takes advantage of the weak and how easy it is to get by through corrupt practices. They fashion their attitudes to be like ours. So when we abuse them at home, physically and mentally, they come to school and attempt to do the same to other children.
When we assault our families and neighbours verbally and physically, they will do the same in the classroom, and even on the street. When we get on social media and “talk people business,” they do the same. I am sure some of us can remember a time when children were to be seen and not heard.
They dared not be involved “in big people business.” When adults gathered to talk, children had to find their beds. Today it is quite different. Children are totally involved in “big people thing.” We see them front and centre in protest action for better school conditions, better road conditions, for employment. They are versed with social media and its use, hence the issue of cyber-bullying.
They yearn to be like us and they take their lessons very seriously.
It is very encouraging to see our Parliamentarians talking to students in search of solutions to the issues of school violence. But why are they not talking to parents, why not the 24 students who were suspended from Chaguanas North Secondary or those from El Dorado? Maybe these students can provide insights to their behaviour and living environments.
It is my hope that as the committee’s scope involves social services, is indicative of the intention to focus attention on the underlying issues, and not produce a slew of recommendations that are just plasters for the sore. I wish to echo the sentiments of the Minister of Public Utilities and his suggestions for using retired officers.
However, the tone of the recommendation suggests that their role should be one of policing the “bullies.” Greater good could come from using these resources in a mentoring capacity. As adults we must take up our responsibility to our children by exemplifying the behaviours we wish them to exhibit.
Garvin Cole
Tobago