Esther Tyson's call in her column (March 1) titled 'Let's take back our society', should be supported in a tangible way, by the respective organisations representing principals as well as teachers.

A petition approved by those organisations would send an 'unequivocal' message to the education ministry and the law enforcement agencies to carry on with their mandate, for no doubt, laws already exist prohibiting the conduct being complained of.

Should those responsible to enforce fail to act, then they should be held accountable, and, if necessary, make way for persons with courage to fulfil their mandate to protect and serve the nation.

However, let us not misguide ourselves into feeling that the above enforcement, which while very useful, is the panacea we all seek to obtain peace and harmony in society.

Values

All stakeholders in civil society would need to discuss frankly the issue of values and how they can be incorporated and inculcated.

Emphasis should be given to 'Educare', which is the means by which inherent divine qualities which are within each child and person are brought out by teachers, within the context of integration of values in the school curriculum.

The fundamental agent of change is to change the existing educational objectives to making 'character as the end of education, and not just knowledge'. True education must not only inform, but transform.

I am, etc.,

LALU N. VASWANI

siewibb@promotech.net

St Michael

Barbados