WHEN THERE IS no congruence between home and school, conflict is the order of the day. When this is negatively impacted by influential forces within the community, chaos is a must.
Manifest youth behaviour is then totally in opposition to our promoted values.
All schools have rules and regulations. The challenge is always that of ensuring respect and support for these rules by parents and other influential people with whom children interact within their neighbourhoods. This is not as easy as one would expect.
In every school in this country (I should limit that to secondary, although there are some primary as well), there is drug use, sex and recurring violent activity with knives, scissors and even guns. Some of us may choose to affix blinkers and live in denial, but the truth remains.
These are totally inconsistent with the values and guiding principles that drive the mission of Barbadian education. We as professionals in the schools, and we as adults in the home must see the need for strength and partnership as we push against such negativity.
We cannot condone a situation in which parents arrive at schools to defend their little angels who had shed their wings many many years before. They confront school administrators and teachers who dared take action against the varied forms of indiscipline and illegality. Not acceptable.
Invariably, these parents come attired in ways that suggest they are either going to the fish market or to Kadooment. Such conduct is seen by children as the example to follow. A stand must be taken against this, letting parents know that school is a place of business.
It would spin most people’s heads to discover the high level of drug use and sexual engagement among our schoolchildren. It is quite institutionalised and foreboding for the future of this country. Unfortunately, everybody has a friend and a defender. Our nation deserves better.
Our children are exploited at every turn by those whose only focus is financial gain. Hence they become runners and recruiters in the drugs trade. Some parents whose values are inconsistent with anything desirable or positive simply give up parental duties and turn a blind eye.
Many of our school leaders and teachers are too timid to take firm stands. They are afraid of the vilification and possible backlash that could come their way. Indeed, even some colleagues betray their professional codes and defend the indefensible depending on the perpetrator.
We must be driven by a simple thought process, “Right is neither selfish nor personal. It is absolute and focused on accepted principles.” This is a clarion call for partnership building between home and school that is driven by values, principles and a sense of decency.
This must begin with a redefinition of the role of the school vis-a-vis the community. We must dismiss the notion that the school will reflect the society in which it operates. Rather, the school must see its role as shaping the community and not reflect it and its assorted negativity.
Within the schools are to be found the educated and trained individuals that are guided by established rules and regulations. Let this inform partnership building to structure a virtual wall against those who would hurt our children and pull down our nation.
Where there is illegality, utilise the services of the Royal Barbados Police Force. They have always been willing to assist. Where there is deviation from the rules, take firm, decisive and uncompromising action. Home and school must support, not oppose, each other in this battle.
Jeff Broomes is an experienced educator, principal and community organizer who also served as vice-president of the BCA and director of the WICB. Email [email protected] .
