Minister on right path with school reforms

Our young people live in an era where technology overrides courtesy and good manners.

Children follow what they see in their homes and when parents do not adhere to decent standards the children usually inherit improper conduct.

Violence has always been in primary, secondary and higher education schools since the 60s. Many principals and teachers would usually sweep disorder by unruly students under the carpet and be sworn to secrecy.

But as the years passed by the violence escalated and the absence of corporal punishment has made many good parents and teachers sad. Imagine children are becoming braver, delinquent and even smarter than some teachers or parents.

The frustration of being exposed to numerous ideologies have confused their minds.

How can you tell a Trini child to stop speaking “Yankee?” Children watch the foreign shows on TV constantly and are fascinated by the style of clothing, speech, and actions.

So they no longer care to be true TT sons or daughters of the soil.

Some would say they are sons of the world, thanks to globalisation, Facebook, Twitter and social media. But a transformation can come when we begin to truly love our own culture and lifestyle.

Never be ashamed of who we are. We are unique and priceless and the tourists surely would like to see that.

Politics is part of everyone’s life and we run wild and carefree not realising the real truth of decisions. In other words, we quarrel when a leader we damn disappears from the spotlight.

So with the Ministry of Education’s positive and humanistic strategies to reform the “bad apples” in our schools, no matter who preaches great news, there is someone out there to bring it down.

The minister is on the right path with the reintroduction of curriculum enhancement.

The following should also be looked at: * Introduction of subjects such as manners and courtesy.

* Increase in participation of parents and all PTAs in meetings and school-related activities.

* Adherence to a strict diet for all students. They are consuming too much junk.

Schoolchildren have the wrong concept of sex. They believe that once they experience it, they have to do it all the time. God will always forgive any type of illicit activity or sin. But schoolgirls who become pregnant delay their progress in the school years.

Everybody in this land needs some type of counselling.

We face stress daily, and we all know that teenage pregnancy is part of the cycle of abuse, confusion and immaturity.

The active programme of health and family life education must continue to teach students to control sexual urges. Some children are now given the opportunity to experience the various stages of childhood.

Life is surely much more than material things. All students must believe there is a God who loves us all. And parents must endure the pains of the Education Ministry which is working religiously to set appropriate and sensible infrastructures.

GREGORY J NEPTUNE Port-of-Spain