Last week during speech day activities, principal Vincent Fergusson freely admitted there was a drug problem among students at the Coleridge and Parry School (CP).
Referring to some students as “walking time bombs”, Fergusson said many of the young ones believed using marijuana was “cool”, but the school was seeing the negative results and signs of hopelessness.
The principal went to the top of the class with many online readers for so candidly facing the issue.
Sabrina Brathwaite: Very brave. CP had this problem for years; and just as you said, other schools as well. So don’t bash this school. Just start the clean-up campaign.
Andrew Headley: Here is a person who wants to get things done. I applaud you for stepping up and stepping out. Nothing kept hidden ever gets fixed.
Cornelius Drogo: Kudos to Mr Fergusson. This is an islandwide problem in schools nowadays and everyone is just trying to sweep it under the carpet to save face, but in the end, whose face are you really saving? When you ignore the problem and don’t single out and get those students help, it will not end well for anyone.
Danielle Belle Aurora: The hopelessness young people feel has nothing to do with drugs and everything to do with their home situation. Y’all always looking for an easy way out and misplacing blame . . . .
Naomi Holligan: At least he is brave enough to talk about it. All principals should join in and see what can be done to change the situation.
Diana Cummins: Very well, Sir, hope others follow suit and something is done to help those who so desire to be helped. On that note, I hope that people who are calling for the legalisation of marijuana will pay attention to what is being said about our youth.
Christopher Power: Mr Fergusson, I respect your openness to the problem, and hope that through your public recognition of the problem this nation can get some long-awaited positive results on the issue.
Sandy Turf Stables: But yet a percentage of people are pushing to legalise it. At this rate, Barbados has no future.
Deenee Thomas: It has been going on for many years at many of the schools across the island. Many were in denial and when that happens, this is the result.
Deborah Ross-Ard: Not the only school; other principals should step up so we can save our children.
Joey: This problem has been going on for years now and will continue as long as illegal drugs come into this country. Sorry to say, Mr Fergusson, there’s nothing we can do about it unless we can stop the drugs coming in. Can we?
Tony Waterman: There is something else other than marijuana going on with these students that the principal is referring to, and someone with clinical experience should be allowed to research the underlying cause of their deviant behaviour.
Sherrylyn Toppin is The Nation’s Online Editor.