Low self-esteem, a cause of crime

THE EDITOR: I find it very painful that the press continually targets students from secondary schools for ridicule and condemnation by the public. I realise that one of the reasons that they get away with it, is that many of the more influential persons in society have children in ‘prestige’ schools and that they therefore think of children in Junior Secondary schools, Senior Secondary schools and to some extent five and seven year Government schools as not really worth much.

Well as a teacher for a long time, I would like the public to know that we have many good ambitious, hard-working and decent children in all schools and that children in all schools are deserving of respect and must not be held up to public ridicule. When a child’s face is shown in the paper and his or her hair-styles, shoes and clothes ridiculed and criticised, is this likely to help him to be a better person? The causes of crime are many but one of the main causes is low self esteem. By publishing those pictures and comments the paper (not Newsday) is contributing to creating angry persons who feel that the society does not care about them. Criminals are protected from condemnation by the public until they at least appear before a magistrate. These children, in fact all our children deserve and need us to help them to make good choices not ridicule them and pounce on them at every opportunity.
P.s. Please do better than that.

E PURCELL
St James