The Editor, Sir:

Thought to ponder: Is there really a link between the literacy level of many of our students, evidenced by poor performance in core CXC subjects, and the increasing level of violence in our schools?

As the nation continues to grapple with the multifaceted spectre of crime plaguing our society, the cries of injustice (and for justice) from our teachers seem to be lost in the cacophony of socio-political rhetoric in response to the myriad of ills facing our nation.

Have we exhausted all options for eradicating and preventing violence in our schools? The head of this river of violence is formed at the adult level of our wider society. Since then, it has flowed down to the secondary and then the primary levels of our school society.

Perpetrators in the minority

Despite the seeming omnipresence of the problem now permeating so many sectors of our society, the majority of us still seem to be of the (old-fashioned?) opinion that the perpetrators are in the minority.

If this is indeed so, then shouldn't it be possible for 'the majority' to unite and influence a change or suppression of the behaviour of the minority?

Such a unity could see the collaboration of the PTA (yes parents and guardians, you can still help make a difference), the students' council, the peer counsellors, the PALS initiative, ISCF, Hands Across Jamaica for Righteousness, Jamaicans For Justice, the JTA, the National Intercessory Prayer Network, the Jamaica Council of Churches and others.

Positive action needed

The challenge to these bodies is to come together (if at all possible) in one voice, and with one aim, to take decisive and positive action against this epidemic of violence which, as a roaring lion, would seek to devour our beloved students and teachers and Jamaica's very future.

I shudder at the tremendously positive impact that would be made not only in our schools, but in the nation at large and, who knows, maybe in our homes!

I am, etc.,

CONRAD STEWART

radjam1@yahoo.com

Via Go-Jamaica