Segregation is not the answer

The Editor: I want to strongly disagree with the proposal of Clive Pantin and now Trevor Oliver for segregation of low performing youths to an Institute attached to the Defence Force.

Our proposals for solution of the crime and violence situation must be evidence based not directed by emotion and prejudice. The society has been divided enough. This is the time for inclusion and participation in the decisions that affect our lives. What the evidence shows is a need for education reform and building of community resources for education reform. The use of community organising strategies to reform public schools has been proven to work and to achieve notable results in many parts of the world, in the past decade. This movement challenges traditional methods of community and parental involvement, particularly in low-performing schools  with high staff shortages, un-trained teachers and bureaucratic and dysfunctional cultures.

The key to community driven school reform is community organising that creates the social capital necessary to form equal partnerships — not divisions — between the community, the parents and the school. This enables groups to break through bureaucratic paralysis and to generate public demand for policies and resources to eliminate — not increase — disparities in the education system. Crime and violence are learnt behaviours and it is the responsibility of each one of us to show the love, care and respect for all children. No super star or big name celebrity can do that for us. If any one should be taken down to Chaguaramas, it is the teachers, the ministry officials and school administrators. They are the ones who have failed. Parents and youth must have the opportunity to be real partners with the educators to create the school climate and environment conducive to learning for all our children.

Hazel Brown
Diamond Vale