Class struggle linked to school violence

THE EDITOR: David Abdulah in his article in the Sunday Newsday dated January 25, was correct in identifying the cause of violence in schools. The comrade bluntly pointed out that the “market society” we have built has now resulted in the war zone that the school system has degenerated into. Many of the students who engage in violent acts in schools are overwhelmingly from the lower income homes. They are the ones who perform poorly in  their academic work. These students also belong to the schools that are poorly funded. The communities they live in are flooded by drugs, violence and the gun culture. The violence in the nation’s schools merely reflects the barbarism that exist in the wider society.

This is in striking contrast to the schools where there is no violence. The students do well academically and are the ones from the gated communities. As comrade Abdulah noted, these are the “realities of the market place.” These inequalities are the result of a market economy. The situation is so dismal that police and army officers will be posted at schools. This will eventually lead to a combative environment in schools that will spill over into the outer society. It seems that the society Thomas Hobbes, the famous English philosopher spoke about during the seventeenth century exists today. He argued that “covenants without swords are but words” and only the terror of punishment by an absolute power will ensure security. When police and soldiers patrol schools, we have reached the stage Hobbes spoke about. What is likely is that these same students who act violently are the ones in a few years who will scale the walls of the gated communities where the wealthy live. This struggle between the classes will only intensify if there is not any change.

Many “solutions” have been offered but they all plaster the surface. A suggestion by a cleric to bring all schools under denominational boards and to introduce exorcism highlights how short-sighted some religious leaders are in this country. Many are no better than politicians and greedy businessmen. Only state control of all schools where resources are fairly distributed will provide the answer. Those secondary schools under denominational boards that are considered prestigious, do well only because the children of the elite go there. No one can scientifically prove that there is a correlation between religious dogma and academic success. One only has to look at Cuba. That country has one of the best education systems in the Western Hemisphere, yet the state is in total control and religion has no part in the education process. Religion is a private belief and should be kept that way. Only the “visible hand” of the state can ensure equality and a level playing field for all students no matter what background they are from. This country has the resources to do this. These suggestions may seem like heresy in the age of privatisation of education. Violence in schools will continue to grow unless there are sweeping changes to this unjust system. It seems that every day we are all edging closer to hell.

RAPHAEL JOHN LALL
Erin