Adrian Frater, News EditorWESTERN BUREAU:
WHILE THE activities of criminal gangs continue to be a source of concern for the police in western Jamaica, it would appear that this unfortunate scourge is having very little impact on the region's education system.
Unlike in the 1980s when school gangs were notoriously rampant in areas such as Montego Bay, officials of the Ministry of Education and the Police Area One High Command are reporting that there are no recent reports to suggest the existence of gangs in any school.
"We have not had any recent reports
suggesting the existence of any gangs in the schools in this division," said Area One Crime Chief, Superintendent John Morris. "We know of cases of individual students giving trouble in some of our schools but as to organised gangs, we have no such reports." Area One comprises the parishes of Trelawny, St. James, Hanover and Westmoreland
At St. James High School, which is in the heart of a number of Montego Bay's inner-city communities, and was once considered a violence-prone institution, acting principal Jeannette Solomon said the school has been enjoying much success in its quest to change that image.
STRICT SECURITY MEASURES
"We have instituted strict security measures here. Every single child is searched with a metal detector before he or she enters the school compound," said Ms. Solomon, who has been serving at the school for almost 30 years. "Through our guidance counselling programme, we have instituted mediation programmes to resolve conflicts and this has been working quite well." Two security guards, a male and a female, are posted at the entrance of the school.
Anchovy High School, in St. James, which is basking in its 2005 success in Caribbean Examination Council/General Certificate of Education examination results this year, has developed a model programme to impact both students and their parents.
"We have a mentorship programme which is being overseen by a senior member of staff. In addition, we have resource persons and church leaders coming to talk and worship with the students," said Dr. Walton Small, the principal at the institution. "At the parent teacher association level, we have been putting on parenting classes to help the parents better supervise their children."
When the western regional office of the Ministry of Education was contacted, Regional Director Vincent Guthrie, was not available for comment. However, a junior official told The Sunday Gleaner that the current period was possibly the most tranquil the western region has ever seen.
Signs of
possible pre-gang
behaviour
A combination of these
warning signs may indicate possible gang involvement.
Sudden change in
friends and/or change
of appearance.
Disrespect for authority, family, and school.
Withdrawal from family, desire for excessive
privacy, staying out late.
Increased substance abuse.
Having unusually large amounts of money, asking for or stealing money,
extravagant spending.
Using unknown vocabulary, gang slang, fractured
sentences, excessive
swearing, and hand signals.
Unusual pen marks,
bruises, burns, or drawings of graffiti symbols and names on skin or personal items.
Gang presence in schools is noticeable through clothing styles, weapons, graffiti,
vandalism, arson, stabbings, shootings, extortion of fellow students, and intimidation of teachers and administrators.
Source: http://www.pen.k12.va.us/Div/Stafford/Safety/gangs.html
