Educators must not surrender their authority

THE EDITOR: School violence has been with us for a long time.   In 1989 TTUTA initiated a national consultation on indiscipline and violence in schools.  Presenters at this consultation however, were each allotted three minutes to voice concerns, views, experiences and problems. Today various people and organisations are expressing views on this seemingly intractable subject, some of which are quite outrageous. I think it is time for another venture at unmasking this persistent problem.  I want to suggest a task force led and organised by UWI personnel somewhat like that which produced the Education Plan 1993-2003.  If they are competent to produce an Education Plan they are competent to do a proper study on indiscipline and violence in schools.

Every training course in management/administration deals with principles of in-group and out-group interaction. Casual observation shows that from infancy through senior citizenship people tend to resent being directed by others with whom they have not created a relationship. Adolescence is also observed to be the most volatile age. Managers know that they just cannot drop into an organisation and begin to give orders.  They have to work themselves in.  Remember the reception given to Archbishop Gilbert?  Letters were even sent to the Pope.  But he has skillfully worked himself in. The police themselves gave us another case-study example — the vigorous reaction to foreign implants introduced by ex-minister Huggins. Is Iraq an example on the world scale? I am not ascribing any blame or condoning any unlawful act, neither am I saying that the police or anyone authorised by the Ministry of Education should not be in schools. But directing, controlling and leading can only be effectively exercised by in-group personnel. We are on a road to hell if the Ministry and schools surrender the tasks of directing, controlling and leading their pupils.

VOLNEY  L  PIERRE
Palmiste, La Romaine