I HAVE BEEN FOLLOWING the current situation between the Barbados Secondary Teachers’ Union, Barbados Union of Teachers and the Ministry of Education for some time now. I had to display great restraint from commenting via my Facebook page and I am glad I did.
I think I am in a better place to share now that I have gathered my thoughts and observed how the situation is progressing.
Let me start by saying that I am a former public secondary school teacher and I also taught secondary students at a private school. Added to that, I have conducted numerous motivational talks and leadership training workshops throughout secondary schools and therefore am fully aware of the challenges within our secondary institutions.
When I was a student at Christ Church Foundation School, I never witnessed a student and teacher fighting; that’s not to say it never happened. There were fights between students every now and again but nothing in comparison to what I have witnessed during my time as a teacher.
I make no apologies in saying this, but all schools aren’t the same and we need to stop sticking our heads in the sand and pretending that they are.
Some days in a secondary school are literally like being in a war zone and when fights start, the rest of the day is tense and edgy. Students fight with swords, knives, sticks, metal bars, rocks and chairs. At some schools the presence of police is shocking, whereas at others it’s a norm.
There is also violence against teachers and other members of staff. They are attacked, threatened, cursed, their vehicles damaged, and the list goes on. Gangs and family members arrive on the school compound to fight and war against students and teachers who have wronged their “family”.
I don’t know if this still happens, but teachers at a particular school would park their vehicles in the car park of a neighbouring supermarket or restaurant because students used to damage them.
It is my understanding that it isn’t the role of a teacher to part fights and many teachers are objecting to even attempting to part fights since some have been seriously injured and had their clothing and property damaged, all at their expense.
Two of the duties of the teacher, obtained from the Education Regulation 1982 – Regulation 23: A teacher in a public school shall, subject to the act and these regulations
f) maintain proper order and discipline among the pupils under his care;
h) assist in promoting the welfare and well-being of the pupils and fostering their social and moral development.
This should raise serious concerns for any parent; who then is responsible for parting a fight? Is your child to be beaten and stabbed until the fight stops? Honestly, some of the security guards at our schools look so shaky, untrained and unfitthat I have little faith in their abilities.
We in this country are governed by fear and intimidation and, as a result, refuse to speak up. The public is clueless about the many challenges occurring in schools and I blame teachers for being quiet all this time. Too much has been hidden up and for way too long. I would love to see a televised or radio forum where students, teachers and other members of staff (janitors, security, maintenance) can call in anonymously and share some of the horrors they experience on a daily basis.
Most teachers go beyond the call of duty daily to care for their students. However, there are some in the system who constantly disrespect, maliciously embarrass, abuse and treat their students unfairly. The same way the unions took an aggressive approach to a 14-year-old’s actions, I would like the same approach towards their adult members who display such negative behaviour.
The principals have BAPPSS, the teachers have the unions, but who do the students have? Throughout this entire situation, no one has asked the views of the students. They should have a place at the discussion table. Let’s hear from them how they feel about their teachers, the school, leadership and the curriculum. This should be the role of the student councils if they still exist.
Our education system is in need of an upgrade and we are seeing some aspects of that with the introduction of the N/CVQs and new CXC subjects like animation. However, the root of the negative behaviour being displayed in our schools is found in the home, the community and wider society.
• Corey Worrell, a former Commonwealth Youth Ambassador, is director of C2J Foundation Inc., a project-based NGO focusing on social development. Email: coreyworrell@gmail.com
