The gesture of Dennis Kelly, principal of Charlie Smith High School, represents the contradiction that exists in many minds in Jamaica regarding the use of corporal punishment in schools.
Apparently, Mr. Kelly's symbolic placing of 'the strap' in a coffin, placement in the hearse and procession to the graveyard was only to impress the students for Peace Day.
Contrary to his statement that "There is a philosophy that corporal punishment perpetuates violence and children tend to retaliate violently when they are beaten," Mr. Kelly further states that "The burial of the strap does not mean that the school will remove corporal punishment completely, noting that it will be used as a last resort." While most schools tout the 'last resort' philosophy, they in fact use corporal punishment on a regular basis as the first resort.
Mr. Kelly further states, "Violence will not oppress us any longer. Fear will be replaced with fun." But if corporal punishment will be used as a last resort there will be no fun that day.
The corpse of the strap was not even cold in the grave before it was resurrected; so before we applaud the funeral, let's get rid of the ghosts.
A. M. Ansari, stop1998@aol.com,Via Go-Jamaica
TIME FOR CHANGE
As a person who has never been motivated to vote, I find it hard to be excited by the election of Portia Simpson Miller to the presidency of the People's National Party (PNP). Many persons I talk to are amused by the hype that has surrounded the PNP elections and the prospect of having a woman as Prime Minister.
The one thing that many persons have said to me is that although they like Portia Simpson Miller as a person, they can't vote for the PNP to remain in government, because things have become almost unbearable under their rule with crime and violence out of control. Portia has been there for every right move and every wrong move made by this PNP government.
I can't help but feel that she is part of the problem and not part of the solution, and so far she has not said how she will be different from her government of the last 17 years. Don't get me wrong, Portia seems like a nice lady, but kisses can't help us solve the serious problems we face as a nation.
After so many years of a PNP government, it is time for a change, and for the first time I have a duty to my children to vote for the only real hope of change a change of government to give the JLP a chance.
Chris King, chris_king79@hotmail.com, Kingston 8, Via Go-Jamaica
