Devon Dick

Recently, I watched a newscast in which children were sent home from a prominent high school because they wore 'bling' shoes to school, which is against school rules. This was done after the principal had warned the PTA.

I was pleased with the response of the Education Officer who said that school rules must be obeyed but that the school administration could have handled things differently. I agree with her.

It also appears to me that the punishment was excessive for the crime committed. Justice demands that the punishment ought to be commensurate with the offence. Students who sexually harass teachers should be expelled from school. Those who commit rape and injure fellow students should be expelled and face possible criminal charges. Once a student is a threat to fellow students or teachers the strong action should be taken including exclusion from the school premises.

Incorrect uniform

However, the wearing of incorrect uniform should not be an offence which carries the penalty of being sent home. There are other possible punishments. One other high school punishes the children who wear incorrect shoes by making them go barefoot at school. That is a bette punishment because the child is still in school.

It is dangerous to send home children during school hours without notifying the parents. My understanding is that during school hours the school is responsible for the students. Therefore, excluding the child from the school premises during school time exposes the school to trouble if something should happen to that child who has been sent home, and locked out of school. During school hours, it would be better to call the parents and have the children in a detention room until the end of school. But at all cost keep the children in school.

Furthermore, the action of the school's administration has been called into question on the issue of whether due process has been followed. This also is a serious issue, which could make the school liable for lawsuits.

But what are 'bling shoes'? Is it high heels, which are uncomfortable and bad for the feet? I hope 'bling shoes' are not the comfortable shoes the students displayed on TV.

Mountain out of a molehill

Let us not make a mountain out of a molehill concerning shoes. The most the rule should say is that students should wear comfortable shoes which match the uniform and could also state a preference in colour. In England, a female Muslim student won a case in court, which allowed her to wear her religious garb, which was different from the school's uniform. What would happen if a child decided to go barefoot because of poverty or religious grounds? There was a time when Jamaican students did not wear shoes to school and it did not affect their learning.

My understanding is that Jesus preferred to wear sandals. I suspect that if Jesus was a boy in Jamaica and went to school in sandals it would be termed 'Buttu shoes'. If the wearing of shoes does not cause physical injury to fellow students or teachers then the students should not be sent home. If the wearing of so-called bling shoes does not affect the education enterprise then the students should not be sent home. If the child is rude while wearing outlawed shoes that is a different matter. But keep the child in school.