Education Minister Andrew Holness' comments recently about prosecuting parents of offending students is a matter of aiming in the right direction, but hitting the wrong spot.

We can all agree that the rate of violent attacks on our children in schools is at an alarming level. We, therefore, have an urgent need for solutions. The solution may not, however, lie within the 'locking up' of the offenders' parents.

Since the removal of corporal punishment from the school system nothing was put in place to fill the void. This void needs to be filled, and not with brute force or arrogant suggestion, but by strategic deep-thought solutions.

Students arming themselves should not be seen as an accident; it may be a reflection of the dictates of physical law. For every action there is an opposite and equal reaction.

'Back in the day' violent punishment was administered by school authorities. Class teachers would 'flog' and headmasters would 'cane'. Through this routine, discipline and control were achieved, all be it by violent means. Today, those authorities are out of the hands of the school's administration, and seemingly left hanging, so naturally someone is going to take charge.

The weapons students possess these days are alarming. Apart from the two students who were recently killed, there are numerous incidents occurring within our schools daily.

Mr Holness, if you have intentions of doing something about the problem, then you should step up to the plate in a full way. It is imperative that this void be urgently filled. But, if it is another of the knee-jerk reaction that the society is accustomed to, you might just be shooting breeze. A strategic, well-thought-out solution is what's needed.

I am, etc.,

MAURICE WILKS

mauricelee1@yahoo.com

New Port, Manchester