Boot camps for indisciplined children

THE EDITOR: These two institutions must now be fervently debated at the Ministry of Education if we are to achieve the vision 2020 as stated by the Government and to deal with the indiscipline in our nation’s schools.

I listened attentively to callers on Radio 95.5FM on the morning of November 18, 2003, many of whom indicated that either the affected schools should be closed or delinquent students be kicked out of the system. These students have all demonstrated their willingness to contribute to the continued growth of public disobedience, which has been demanded so vociferously by the Leader of the Opposition. We, as a caring nation, should not allow the youths to continue on the road to damnation as their parents who were also allowed the same luxury and who would not care for one second what their charges were doing. Never one day has any of them asked their children, “How was school today?” Instead they applaud their behaviour and refuse to apply discipline in the home. In most instances, children (parents) cannot discipline children.

These students are never prepared for classes, are disruptive and an annoyance to the teachers at the schools. Both they and their idiotic parents are quick to point a finger at someone else for their position or behaviour. Solutions offered would have left both the children and parents just as ignorant and yield no positive fruit. Careful consideration should be given to the setting up of “boot camps” for both girls and boys to be manned by trained army personnel, who would be required to prepare programmes to deal with indiscipline. The students assigned are to be bused to and from school daily and standards must be set and adhered to without compromise. They would be required to perform daily chores and those students who are not academically inclined, to horn skills such as carpentry, leather craft, tailoring etc.

The parents would be allowed weekly visits to bring food etc and a mandatory weekly monetary contribution since the state would be providing more than the basics. Additionally, both parents and children should be required to attend counselling. Failure to attend should not be condoned but dealt with seriously through an approved and agreed form of penalties. Take the bull by the horns or else do not complain.

KEN THOMAS
Woodbrook