The Editor, Sir:

Here's one citizen's input for addressing the weapons-in-school issues, without building alternative schools, which we cannot afford at this time. This approach will get the wider community involved.

There has to be routine searches, once weekly, at the start of the programme.

An impromptu visit from the Ministry of Education. At the initial stage, general meeting with entire grade level e.g. Grade 7.

Have guidance counsellor, principal or vice principal, and teachers from the grade level.

Reinforce the implications of weapons in school and how they affect the wider community etc.

Allow discussion and make sure this is productive and related to the matter at hand only.

Request voluntary handover of all known and perceived sharp implements, pistols etc.

This does not have to be a hasty process, an hour or two should be enough (a break time could even be included to get the students to get their secured/hidden weapons).

Conducting searches

Immediately after the exercise, enlist the help of the police to search bags, lockers and persons ( all done maintaining the rights of the students, legally)

ALL weapons and potential articles, which could be deemed to cause harm, confiscated and the name and info of that student recorded. It would be pre-determined what level of reassignment would be necessary for items found.

Immediately after this, the students are told that they would be reporting to the police station for the duration of the time assigned, according to the weapon found.

The hours could be the same as the school hours (if possible, try not to work this as a shift system, so the police station would not have a lot of disruption from their normal activities - it might have to definitely be 8 to 4 or 9 to 5.

Teachers would be required to have assignments (as per classroom plan) and work for those students forwarded to the assigned station. The time at the station would be productive and not for socialisation. This time away from school should be a time to concentrate on missed work and current work so students can participate, appropriately, when back in the general school.

>Responsibilities of the police station

Provide a room in the building where monitoring is not a problem. The responsibility of the clerk at the desk would be to note, accurately, time of arrival and departure. A picture ID would be helpful to identify students.

Students have to be attired in school uniforms and properly groomed.

Allow for lunch and two break times, but students have to stay within the area prescribed.

At the end of each day, the work done will be collected for pick-up by school or Ministry of Education personnel.

At the end of the period of reassignment, the student's record should be faxed to his/her school, showing the name, date and times of arrival and dismissal.

No-shows, without valid reasons, could prolong the reassignment period, or result in harsher punishment, to include community service. This info would become a part of the student's school record.

Why the police station? This gives the severity of the exposure to criminal behaviour (if, for example, reassigned to the health clinic, this would be seen as being sick or of ill-health)

This gives the police the opportunity to interact with the juvenile part of their work and also to help at-risk youngsters redirect their behaviours.

I am sure this suggestion could be improved, so please use this as a guide.

I am, etc.,

V. Campbell

Valcam_Campbell@yahoo.com

Via Go-Jamaica