Jamaica College students worshipping during a crusade held on the school grounds yesterday. In the foreground (from left) are Bengallo Morris, Ramon Cooper and Andrew Williams. In the background are Michael Davis and Kamar Watson. - Ricardo Makyn/Staff Photographer

Amid the growing levels of indiscipline in schools across the island, Jamaica College (JC) has sought to reduce this problem by hosting a week-long crusade on the school grounds.

The week of intense ministry, praise and worship began yesterday, and is being held under the theme, 'Jesus - The Answer in a Changing World'.

Ruel Reid, principal of JC, said while there has been a remarkable improvement in discipline, there are still young men who have challenges.

"And we feel that one of the ways to achieve sustainable improvement in discipline and academics is to give them a source of power that allows them to maintain good moral standards to stay on the correct path," Reid told The Gleaner yesterday.

He added: "A lot of what our young men face today is about choices because they have to make choices about bad company, to fight or not to fight, drugs, sex, which literally impacts on the quality of discipline in schools."

Sunday school

Reid noted that some young men no longer attend Sunday school, and lack proper parenting. He noted that the crusade, which is to become an annual event, is one way of helping the boys.

"Because if God can't rescue these young men, nobody else can," said the former Jamaica Teachers' Association president.

Reid noted that the administration intends to reposition JC as a church school. "Meaning that every young man at JC will be fully immersed and exposed to the doctrine of Christianity," said Reid.

Derrick Simon, elder at Mona Heights Chapel, who addressed the boys, said an activity like this seeks to bring them closer to God.