Violence affecting schools' attendance

THE SPATE of violence along the lower section of Mountain View Avenue and in adjoining communities has begun to have a negative impact on several schools in the area, among them the Curlene Johnson and Solomon Levy Basic Schools and Norman Gardens Primary and Junior High.

Classes were suspended at Norman Gardens Primary yesterday while the teachers met in an emergency meeting, followed by a board meeting later in the afternoon. It is alleged that people working at the school had been threatened.

The Windward Road Primary School also confirmed that they received threats via telephone yesterday. Classes were disrupted yesterday morning, following reports that there was a bomb on the premises.

The Curlene Johnson and Solomon Levy Basic Schools were scheduled to re-open yesterday morning, following a commitment by Assistant Commissioner Arthur "Stitch" Martin that there would have been adequate security.

But the killing of five persons between Saturday night and Monday morning have left students and parents terrified. A group of placard bearing residents on lower Mountain View Avenue mounted roadblocks and protested. One of their concerns was the impact of the violence on their children's education.

Parents with whom The Gleaner spoke said the children who attend school outside the community were also unable to get to school, because of the shootings and killings. Some parents are now sending their children to safer communities.

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