THE RECENT spate of acts of rock-throwing in the bus and student on student fights on the streets has seemingly surprised a number of persons and elicited much public debate.
Unfortunately, we are a society that ignores clear signals, not noticing the broken latch on the stable door, but then get into a frenzy when the horses are seen running helter skelter over the fields, so the reaction is not surprising.
Barbadian schools and schoolchildren are not the same as they were in the well romanticised glory days of the past. The role and influence of the school authorities have been diminished.
The partnership between home and school that worked so well is now limping along crying out for a daily dose of medication. The united front the school once presented is fractured as one organisation or the other sees self promotion and power grabbing as more important than supporting regulations and established principles.
If anyone were to check the disciplinary records of almost any secondary school in this country, the findings would be the same. Daily, there are fights and rock-throwing.
Teachers and school leaders are overwhelmed with the apparently never-ending parent conferences focussed on solving these issues. The more that teachers talk the more the parents seek to defend their “little angels” who in their minds are always innocent.
There was a time when students feared their parents hearing of indiscretions at school. Now, they take great pride in hearing that their mother or father has been called in for a conference and boldly warn teachers of the challenges they will face from one parent or the other. Indeed, some parents then arrive and display behaviour coloured with obscenities threatening actions. They show little respect for the age of the children in whose presence they are misbehaving. Often, they have had to be asked to leave the premises.
It is also not always easy on children. Sometimes school leaders are asked to respond to unacceptable actions or statements for which the students have been reported. Further investigation occasionally shows that they have been provoked into that position by a comment or an action from the staff member.
This realisation presents the unwanted conundrum that challenges school leaders. When the necessary and professional position is taken the outside organisations look to flex muscles. Students are not always wrong, and they do get frustrated when their genuine concerns are not properly addressed.
As one travels our streets the signs of low standards and lack of care for regulations or decency are seen. There are many bus shelters with seats. At almost everyone, schoolchildren can be seen sitting on the backs with their feet in the seats (some females ignominiously exposed).
It looks indecent and it shows no respect for the fact that others have to sit where they have placed their feet. Personal comfort supersedes decency and the sign is manifest!
What is worse is that often adults are there at the bus stops refusing to speak to these youngsters about the correct things to do. I am not sure that it is because of a lack of concern or interest. To my mind, simple fear sometimes informs their non-involvement. Everyone has a friend and a defender who thinks only about the person and not what is right.
Hence, you see something and you say nothing as you focus on protecting your person, both physically and against the deluge of obscenities and threats that would be sure to rain down.
There is nothing under the sun that just happens. The recent manifestation of indiscipline and disrespect is really the culmination of a lowering of standards, and the unquestioned acceptance of inappropriate behaviour and a defence of what is wrong in an effort to protect our friend, our family or our colleague and group member.
The slide will continue in one form or the other until leaders are prepared to tell people what time of day it is and bell the cat!
Jeff Broomes is an experienced educator, principal and community organiser who also served as a vice-president of the BCA and director of the WICB. Email: [email protected]
