I am responding to the article 'Principals told to police school gangs' published yesterday. As I read the article, I realised that we often make hasty decisions in the name of politics, and we like to copy from other countries and we do not do any kind of study before implementation.

While I do not entertain excessive corporal punishment, I believe removing the 'strap' from the classrooms gave students and some parents the power to disrespect teachers and their peers. This is the implication of removing the strap and not replacing it with consequences that would deter undesirable behaviour. I have taught at home and in the United States.

Although corporal punishment is prohibited here in the US, they do have a system in place with internal and external support staff to combat deviant behaviours and there are consequences that are harsh in some cases.

Now, the education minister is calling on building administrators to be crime fighters. He also wants them to use their 'authority'. The same authority that was taken from them. Sir, I remember as a student in the late '70s and early '80s there were at least two teachers, including the principal, that we were fearful of in addition to our parents.

Powerless teachers

Today, the system has created powerful students and parents and powerless teachers. I believe when we copy ideas we should do some kind of long-term study, then tweak it to suit our culture. I believe the minister should develop a new behaviour management system in addition to regaining the trust of the building administrators and their teaching staff.

I am, etc.,

Olive Lennox

millennox@hotmail.com

Maryland, USA