SOME STUDENTS ARE misusing the free Government transportation available to them.
This trend was disclosed by Springer Memorial head Pauline Benjamin as she delivered the principal’s remarks at the school’s speech day yesterday at the Government Hill school. Benjamin said that this had caused students to get to school late.
“I have had to deal with children who get off the bypass bus at the bottom of Government Hill and no longer do they take the few minutes to walk up the hill. They stand at the bus pole and if it takes an hour or more, they wait for a bus to bring them up here and they come in late.
“Sometimes members of the public call and say, ‘I’ve seen a number of your children at that bus pole and they are still there’. Now if that isn’t a misuse of the public transport, I don’t know what is. Before it was free they walked up the hill . . . . Parents, please pay attention to that,” she said.
Benjamin added: “There is still a massive problem aboard some of the ZRs and minibuses in this country, and someone has got to take this problem seriously. Despite free bus fares, many students from many schools, some of mine too, continue to ride up and down on this form of transportation and to engage in unacceptable behaviour.”
The principal urged parents to refrain from the thought that material things were all their children needed. She stressed that she believed children were the “best psychologists” and that they were observant and affected by what was happening around them.
Benjamin said she was “quite alarmed at the number of young girls who are being led astray daily [and] not only at this school. Unfortunately, they are led astray by older persons”.
“Let me remind you that you are ambassadors of your school, every time you put on that school uniform – and your school uniform is distinctive. I want you to aim for excellence in everything that you do; in your behaviour, in your dress, in your work attitude, in your regularity and in your punctuality; but, above all, in your attitude,” she stated.
Scores of students received awards for their outstanding performances in academics, sports and extra-curricular activities at the ceremony. But only one could be given the Student Of The Year Award: Sade Mariah Greenidge, for her outstanding performances in sports and academics.
Greenidge also received the Principal’s Prize for service to the school and the Chairman’s Award for the best overall all-round student. (AH)