The Editor, Sir:

"When everything has failed, try prayer". Here's one school that put this theory into practice last week. Teachers at the Marlie Mount Primary and Infant School engaged in a week of prayer, from Monday morning, April 7, through to Friday, April 11.

The teachers strongly feel that with the growing cases of violence in and around the community and the indiscipline in schools, they need to seriously seek divine intervention and God's protection. The school asked various religious leaders from different denominations to make presentations each morning. At 6:00 a.m. each day of the week, they gathered in the library for 45 minutes, sang songs of praise, listened to an inspirational message and prayed for students and their families, under the theme "Peace Amidst The Storm".

The principal, who is of a strong Christian background, feels that the teachers' prayers have been protecting the school from violence and will make this event an annual one. Parents and school vendors occasionally join in prayer sessions, and they do not affect the smooth running of the school as the sessions finish before the bell goes at 6:55 a.m.

This year, the week of prayer ended with a prayer breakfast. We invite others to pick up the strain as our schools need this kind of intervention.

I am, etc.,

PAMELA MAPP (Mrs.)

Principal