The Editor, Sir:

On the International Teachers' Day celebration, I have noticed a call for "safe learning environment, ... equal pay and equal rights for female teachers". I note this with some apprehension at the narrow view we have of what's important when far more critical matters are staring us in the face.

Some examples are schools without perimeter fences, schools without security personnel or trained personnel, classrooms that cannot shut out violent intruders, schools with too few male teachers to serve as role models, schools without personnel trained in critical incident management and schools without a crisis management plan that reflects best practices and relevance.

These are the matters we should be putting in place to ensure that for now teachers can feel that they and the children in their care can go to school and return home safely to be able to spend the few dollars that they get right now. I want us to remember that life is not a rehearsal ... it is the reality from the word 'go'.

Another concern is that we are now complaining of the police as they bask in being gross and extreme in putting down whatever they deem to be threats. We went ahead and hardened the police with expensive high-powered weapons, a justification for the fact that the bad guys had better and more powerful weapons than them.

Sticky situation

Now that the bad guys are fewer, these high-powered weapons must still be put to work. On whom? Law-abiding citizens are going to be caught in that sticky situation.

I must tell us that this is not going to change anytime soon unless we do something about police excesses. We can begin by making examples of those responsible or should I say involved in the Grants Pen case. We need to get the police to be responsible for their actions when other people are hurt by them.

I am, etc.,

KAMAU HAKIZIMANA

www.kam-corp.com

CEO - KAMCORP, Security

and Safety Training Solutions

31 Church Street, Montego Bay