GROWING INDISCIPLINE in our secondary schools is becoming a national problem and, in the absence of any clear policy guidelines, decisions by school boards on what action should be taken to control it are often overruled by the Ministry of Education.
This results in mixed signals being sent to unruly students, a situation complicated in many instances by parents who, instead of co-operating with school authorities in correcting unacceptable behaviour, condone and encourage it, going so far as to threaten principals and teachers with bodily harm if their children are punished.
Recently, concerned citizens have been drawing attention to the disgraceful behaviour on public passenger buses by some secondary schoolgirls, who engage in sexually provocative acts in the back seats of the buses, including 'lap dancing' and on Fridays, 'dressing down' by not wearing underwear. To judge by the accounts of the witnesses to what is taking place, the reaction of adult passengers travelling on the same buses as the girls is usually one of bemused tolerance so the practice is catching on.
It is in light of this and assuming that a proper investigation took place that we support the decision of Holy Childhood High School to expel 17 students for unruly acts on public passenger buses. This all-girls Catholic high school has a reputation to protect, an example to set and a tradition of excellence to defend.
We note that the matter has been referred to the Ministry of Education and hope that this is not going to be another case of compromise and confusion.
The fact that a church school is dependent on grant-aid from government in discharging the burden of educating our young, should not give the secular authorities carte blanche in deciding the ethical and moral standards to which such a school wishes to adhere.
Strong action is needed to get control of the present crisis in student behaviour and we hope that other schools will be as fearless as Holy Childhood in helping to solve the problem.
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