Balancing discipline, academics and sports

It was a delight to have watched the recently concluded Walker Cup final between Jamaica College and St George's College and the Ben Francis Cup final between Glenmuir High and Munro College.

Amid the concerns about poor academic standards and indiscipline in our schools, and among our boys in particular, it was a thrill to see four of the most disciplined and academically focused schools competing for supremacy in two of the major schoolboy competitions in the island. This is indeed a fitting tribute to the late Ben Francis, after whom the Ben Francis Cup was named, and Herbert Walker, after whom the Walker Cup was named.

Both Herbert Walker and Ben Francis were both principals and sports administrators who worked tirelessly to highlight the transformational nature of schooling when the right balance is struck between discipline, academics and sports.

A careful examination of the recent successes of the schools in the Ben Francis and Walker Cups may provide us with the essential principles and practices to reach and transform our boys from being violent and non-performers to becoming discipline, purposeful, responsible and high achievers.

Orville Plummer

oaplummer@yahoo.com

Buju and free speech

I agree with E. James in his letter of November 2, 'Hats off to Buju', that everybody should have the right to speak out against things they don't like. It disturbs me, however, that Mr James sees a call to murder people because of their sexual orientation (which is what Boom Bye Bye is) as merely speaking out. Buju, with his right to free speech, has never renounced his explicit instruction to shoot people in their heads for being gay, yet amazingly, James complains about victimisation because those targeted choose to denounce Buju and the people that embrace this blood lust. Free speech is a two-edged sword, stop whining because it cuts your way.

By the way, defending gay people's right to protest doesn't mean I'm gay. It just means I, unlike you, believe in real free speech.

MAC

Kingston

CORRECTION FROMGARTH RATTRAY

In yesterday's column, 'Don't 'Flash' Me', I stated that Superintendent of Police, Claude Reynolds, was head of the Traffic Division. I have since learnt that he is no longer there and that Superintendent Radcliffe Lewis is in charge.

My apologies to the new, hard-working head of that Division, Superintendent Radcliffe Lewis, for not recognising him as such.

Garth A. Rattray

Kingston