The Ministry of Education has to seriously act against school violence

Feb 15, 2010 Letters

Dear Editor,

I am a Guyanese living and working in the Islands. I was a teacher at a school in Georgetown for more than ten years; I am working overseas for just over three years.

I am writing in connection to the series of unfortunate events that occurred at one of the city schools. I share the concerns of the teachers at the school.

I know the feeling; in fact it was a similar incident that made me decide to move on. It was not the fear however, I was prepared to ride it out and continue to serve the best I could – it was the response of the Ministry of Education.

One would expect that in a time of crisis, the Ministry of Education would be the figure to show the most concern and at least share some of the sentiments of the teachers. I could remember vividly the response of the Ministry in my time of crisis, and unless things have drastically changed, I would like to update the teachers of things to come.

First, you will be wholly and solely blamed for the events. You will feel as though you gave birth to the children, nurtured them and made them into who they are.

When the officials come, they will not examine the problem from a holistic angle, they will look in one line, you are the target, and you are the problem that needs fixing.

So, where are your lesson plans, schemes, logs? And the list could go on. How about your regularity, punctuality? If I am wrong and this is not the approach taken, then I will willingly return.

It amazes me that in this age, such an important governing body cannot poke their heads out from under the old fashion blanket to see that society is not what it used to be when they were teaching, (sometimes I wonder, were they even teachers?) things have changed, society has become more violent, the family structure has severely deteriorated, young people are influenced by what they see in the media, in the home and in the community.

These behaviours they take to the schools. Of course I do agree that teachers have a huge part to play in monitoring these behaviours and overall maintaining order and discipline in schools. But when you have a 13 or 14-year-old showing complete disrespect, and mocking that you cannot beat them, what more are you supposed to do?

The Ministry has to take the issue more seriously. Or will they wait until there is a death before they decide to send social workers or councilors or even a police officer to schools prone to violence?

It is not fair that teachers have to bear the brunt of the pressure from the Ministry, what about the parents and homes, what about the community? What programmes do they have to include these bodies in the shaping of the young minds?

So when the Ministry pressures the schools and ask them what they have done to solve the problems, schools should ask them, “What have you done to help us solve our problems and how do you intend to help us?”

Until a proper response can be had to these questions, violence in schools will continue to reign free, teachers will continue to live in fear and some (like me) will look to move on where it actually pays to take risks.

D. Lawerence