Ban on Christmas parties temporarily erases a pervasive problem from schools, not communities

Dec 13, 2019 Letters

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DEAR EDITOR,

This matter has the capacity to stir political thoughts and feelings. I make my position clear that I take no side in political matters currently and I invested maximum effort in writing objectively about an issue to which I am a stakeholder. The recent ban on Christmas parties by the Ministry of Education was, stated bluntly, a terrible decision. This initiative demonstrates that the government is aware of the atrocious level of the indiscipline in schools. I seek an answer to this question. How does a ban on Christmas parties eliminate misbehaviour in schools? All that it does is force students to behave decently temporarily. I shall outline to you the reason that this plan will not correct misbehaviour and I will present suggestions as to better solutions to the problem of poor discipline.
The justification that had been given for the ban on Christmas parties in favour of strictly supervised lunches where students may only listen to carols and must be dressed in school uniforms is that when parties are in progress students’ behaviour diminishes, sinking into indecent and sometimes even downright criminal actions like: drug use, taking weapons to school, the playing of vulgar music, downright failure to acknowledge the dress code, etc. Hence, the Ministry knows that under minimal supervision students are likely to behave like ill-trained savages, or so they think.
If these students cannot be trusted to handle themselves in a responsible and rule-abiding matter at a simple party how can the Ministry trust to release them into the larger society? The rules already prohibit such behaviour, and the education system is under the illusion that it is producing young people who will be law-abiding citizens. If a person has no respect for simple school rules, what guarantee do you have that they would respect laws? The Ministry admits that students do not respect laws; they take weapons and drugs on school premises! This is supposed to sound alarms that we have a crisis on our hands. Rather than sending professionals, training teachers, or involving the wider community in reaching out to, connecting with, and protecting our youth from immorality and illegalities, they have convinced themselves that the best solution to this issue is to eradicate an event that students and even teachers look forward to after the end of a long, possibly even exhausting year. Additionally, if teachers have a difficult time supervising students in a party, how does this make it any easier? The only possible way I can see this working is if students are restricted to their class, in which sense I do not see it as a social, it becomes more of collective isolation. Even the Guyana Teachers’ Union has rightfully stated their position against this and they have not even consulted.
The government should be more focused on the obliteration of immorality and self-destructive behaviour among youth. They should direct their attention towards educating, supporting and elevating our youth. Remember, these are the people who will be entrusted with our Cooperative Republic of Guyana. I think this a worthy investment.
The government should introduce moral education to the curriculum and promote health and family life education so that students understand why morals are important and do not feel as though it is a cord that society uses to suffocate them into submission. Rescuing youth from the shackles of crime and the shame of indecency, which lead only to the destruction of our young people and society as a whole, is a sacrifice that we must make.
The projects which are needed far surpass in demand and cost a simple ban on Christmas parties if we wish to destroy indecent and detrimental behaviour entirely.
Education, not oppression, is the way. In fact, this ban on Christmas parties is enforced even upon those students who do not behave as recklessly as their comrades but still enjoy the party atmosphere.
In summary, this ban on Christmas parties in secondary schools indicates that the government is aware of the indiscipline plaguing our youth. Instead of treating the issue holistically, where the youths are made aware of the effects of wrongful deeds, the government has chosen to erase a harmless activity. I wonder if soon sports will be banned because students misbehave on the field. The government must place efforts on educating the young people towards killing their demons, rather than trying to stamp out harmless events because they breathe activity into the demons. In other words, the focus should be placed on moral education through interactive sessions, one on one talks, building good trust between teachers, communities and students, and the backing of morality in the curriculum. If we are to shred all social events because people misbehave at them rather than correct the misbehaviour, we rob ourselves of a good time and steal opportunities for rescue from the people. If treated correctly, we could erase misbehaviour and even criminal actions across our entire nation, while maintaining democratic principles.

Yours sincerely,
Charlie Adhar

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