Devon Evans, Gleaner Writer
Ocho Rios, ST. ANN:
St. Ann businessman and councillor for the Boscobel division in St. Mary, Michael Belnavis, has urged the authorities to impose stiff penalties on persons who attack teachers in schools.
He said indiscipline was fast overtaking the society with teachers now becoming targets of frequent attacks from both parents and students.
Mr. Belnavis said that every effort must be made to put a stop to this practice and he is urging the Government to take a serious stance on the matter before it is too late.
CANNOT AFFORD TO WAIT
"We cannot afford to wait for the day when a teacher is killed or seriously injured in one of our schools before a decision is made to put measures in place to ensure their full protection," he said.
Mr. Belnavis also said that schools must be seen as sanctuaries for teachers and suggested that the law should come down hard on persons who carry out attacks on members of this noble profession on whom the society depends to properly groom the next generation.
Mr. Belnavis was speaking in Ocho Rios recently.
The Jamaica Labour Party councillor is also calling on the authorities to make school plants more equipped for learning. He said many schools continue to be hampered by a lack of furniture.
