WhitemanTHE EDITOR, Sir:
AS A parent of a 15-year-old boarder at Munro College, I would advise the Minister of Education to spend his energy dealing with the physical state of the school and the abominable overcrowding
of these schools and leave the management of the schools to the relevant principals and the appointed boards.
As a parent of a boarder I trust the school and its management to ensure that the boys never leave the school compound, unless as part of a supervised outing for which I have given authorisation in writing. I also entrust the school to ensure that the boys do not dabble in anything illegal, whether it be stealing, harming someone wilfully or trying any illegal drug. For my own part, I strongly believe that the personal use of ganja should be decriminalised so as to stop the prevalent hypocrisy here and abroad. Every one knows that alcohol is the biggest killer worldwide whether it be in the homes or on the roads! Yet society has turned a blind eye on use and abuse of alcohol.
This being said ganja is illegal in Jamaica, leaving the school's compound is wrecking the safety and trust that parents put in Munro and its management and could have led to terrible consequences.
What if one of the boys were killed on the road, do we sue the Minister or the school? Five boys this time, how many the next time?
Mr. Whiteman needs to apologise to the principal and the school board for such idiotic interference.
If the parents cannot control their children at home and thus send them boarding, one expects them to abide by the rules of the school and the rules of the country.
I take this opportunity to thank both the principal and the Board of Munro for doing such an excellent job against many odds, not least the financial restrictions.
I am, etc.,
SYLVIE GRIZZLE
Negril
Rehabilitate the problem students
THE EDITOR, Sir:
THE RECENT decision by the Minister of Education to overturn the Munro College School Board's expulsion of five students, should not be seen as a support for illegality and indiscipline, but rather as a call for more intervention to prevent others from doing this and also to help rehabilitate these youngsters.
I am firmly on the side of discipline as an important part of nation-building and support measures to deal with this problem in the schools and homes in Jamaica, but I have also experienced situations where disciplinary actions must provide for rehabilitation and growth rather than stagnation and decline.
These youngsters need the support of Munro to put their lives back on track. They need the services of drug rehabilitation and counselling. Munro should be offering this along with disciplinary actions. If we send these boys out on the streets without the strong guidance that Munro can offer, we may be creating not ganja smokers in the future, but criminals because no one was prepared to intervene at an early age.
The Munro students are calling out for help with their act of indiscretion. Let us with a firm conviction to discipline rehabilitate them, thereby giving them the help they need.
I am etc.,
DENNIS A. FRANCIS
Denafranco55@Hotmail.com
Poughkeepsie,
New York
Via Go-Jamaica
Let the parents rehabilitate them
THE EDITOR, Sir:
IT WAS only three short years ago that my husband and I made the decision to move our son from another high school to Munro College because of the severe indiscipline among the teachers and students of that institution.
At a tremendous increase in fees and related expenses we made the necessary sacrifice to provide our child with the education he deserves in his formative years at an institution that upheld our principles and values.
While it has been a struggle, we are extremely pleased with what Munro College has done for our child and for other boys attending the school. Our son has had his infractions against the rules and has had to endure the consequences of his actions. While we were not pleased, our displeasure was rightly focused on our child disobeying rules that were clearly outlined from the very beginning and not on the school and its administrators.
Minister Whiteman's decision to reverse of the Board's decision smacks against all that we value in the education of our child. He talks about rehabilitation of the boys, as if Munro College is now a penal institution and not a school of academic pursuits. He reverses the Board's decision at the detriment of our child and the young men at the school who are on the brink of manhood, eagerly seeking examples of the men they are to become.
Minister Whiteman, I have watched your career as Minister of Education since your appointment in 1989 and applauded your promotion to Minister. You stood out as a man above the political foray, an advocate for the children of this country. That at the twilight of your career you should make a decision like this is utterly inconceivable.
Your action resembles old-school politicking and not that of upholding the law and order that is expected of your higher office.
Send the boys home and let their parents rehabilitate them, as they should. Munro College has not the luxury of rehabilitating five when they have hundreds more to teach.
We are etc.,
OWEN CAMPBELL
MARCIA CAMPBELL
supaboops@yahoo.com
196 Norwick Avenue
Montego Bay
Via Go-Jamaica
To expel is extreme
THE EDITOR, Sir:
I AM not condoning the behaviour of these students, however, the decision to expel them was extreme.
The initial response by the Munro school board to suspend them was very much in accordance with a first offence violation of this nature.
They were suspended and paid the penalty of their indiscretion it is most unfair to implement a double jeopardy punishment.
We were once young and at time(s) have done some form of indiscretion(s) and thank God we were forgiven.
He who is without sin please cast the first stone.
I am etc.,
DERRICK O'REAGAN
kamjel@hotmail.com
East Stroudsburg,
Pennsylvania
Via Go-Jamaica
