By Charlie E. Jones, Contributor 
WESTMORELAND:
MY GRANNY used to say "de devil find work for idle hands." I have been forced to acknowledge, once again, that this simple but profound statement is as true today as it was decades ago.
Recently, I had reason to review a number of studies on student performance and behaviour. What keeps popping out is that students who are not engaged in any form of extra-curricular activities get themselves in "trouble" more readily than their active counterparts.
By checking in with a number of principals and senior teachers in the West, it is evident that aside from playing football and netball or preparing for sports day, there are no other extra-curricular activities for students in their schools.
I heard all kinds of excuses, with most blaming the shift system, as they bemoaned the fact that they are unwilling to come in early or stay later than the five hours per day that they are timetabled for.
Either the teachers do not have the time or they are simply not motivated. Yet, in most of these schools, teachers find the time to have extra lessons which students pay to attend. With extra classes costing anywhere from $100-$200 a day, for four days weekly with 15-25 students and sometimes more, you can do the math and see why they would find the time to earn this tidy sum.
I cannot help but look back at what the administrators at Immaculate Conception High said when they topped last year's Dennis Minott A Quest study, which was based on CXC performance in 2003.
The school attributed the high level of academic achievement and discipline to the 40 extra curricular activities offered to the students, as well as the strong support of "easily accessible" parents.
This leads us to three fundamental questions:
What do students who are not engaged in extra-curricular activities do with all that spare time? Parents, do you know where your children are and what they are doing after they leave school? Teachers, do you know where your students are when they are not engaged in supervised extra-curricular activities? Let's talk.
Do you have a burning issue? Would you like to share it with Western Jamaica? Send your comments to Eye on the West in no more than 350 words. Email at: westernfocus@gleanerjm.com or fax at: 952-3828.
