Violating protected space

Jan 22, 2020 Editorial

This is happening too frequently for comfort. No civilized, 21st century society should have any patience or the slightest tolerance for incidents of violent conduct by parents inside school complexes. It is unacceptable, it is condemnable, and it is time that this kind of misconduct is met head-on with what it deserves. And that is very harsh unsparing responses.
When a parent enters a school compound to find out the facts, to hear of what took place, and to obtain a clear understanding of what occurred involving their child or charge, he or she is in protected space, almost the equivalent of the sacred space of an institution of worship. The ordinary standards of behaviour do not apply, for the expectations are higher, the comportment of individuals demanded to be at an exemplary level.
From quiet respectable speech, to the choice of words, to the tone and temperature of the exchanges. Parents should be made to meet the highest bar possible, as they are setting a benchmark for their own offspring, and there must always be the awareness that there are many children in the vicinity, who are watching and listening.
It is why only the best will do. Anything less signals a departure towards the lawless and all that that embodies. It is all negative and not good for institution, staff, children, or the public. So, when a parent crosses the threshold, it is straighten up or ship out, as in do not cross the line, get behind it, and stay there. Schools are about order, a special kind of ambience, a heavier brand of discipline. It cannot be inconsistent nor haphazard nor weak-willed, for those are sure to be taken advantage of and harm.
Now when parents come to a school, it is to meet with the head, engage the overseeing teacher, learn the facts, and voice their thoughts carefully and freely. Those thoughts, though freely expressed, must be within boundaries, with assertiveness allowed. But there should never be deterioration to the point of violence and physical indignities inflicted.
This is plain wrong; this can never be found understandable, acceptable, or justifiable. There is no justification under any circumstances for such egregious misconduct, which borders on the criminal. Truth be told, such deplorable and disgraceful misbehaviours must be called for what they are: felonies in the purest sense of the word.
It is why this paper believes and recommends that anytime a parent steps out of bound and raises voice to threaten violence, or actually raises hand in contemplation or the commission of violent acts, then it is time for immediate police intervention. In fact, the standing protocol, as put in place by the Ministry of Education, has to mandate that any parent who menaces or engages in acts that deteriorate to physical abuse should be subject to immediate reporting to and arresting by the Guyana Police Force, with charges of aggravated assault and battery instituted. If a weapon is involved, then it has to be attempted murder. Depending on the gravity of the situation, and if any injury resulted, there should be no bail granted.
The incident must be shared with the press and the name and picture of the offending parent published, with details of the story revealed to the public. It is the view of this publication that if the authorities are serious and take the severest view of school violence initiated within a school’s compound by a parent, then these steps have to be implemented, with no exceptions entertained, no discretion permitted. Let the chips fall where they may.
With literally a handful of such arrests, charges, court proceedings, and sentences, it is guaranteed that some degree of sanity and civility would take hold, with shades of normalcy returning to within the confines of houses of learning. If we continue to treat these occasions of indiscipline, disregard, and barbarisms with kid gloves and in the current tame and low-keyed manner, then it is an invitation for more of the reckless and dangerous to invade school property and lash out at whomever incurs their wrath and whenever it pleases them. It is time that this nonsense be brought to a hard stop and right now.

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