Heather Robinson

The word 'bling' connotes many things. It refers to 'pretty pretty', 'hip', modern, current, and in some cases 'shiny' clothing or attire. Many young people believe that it is mandatory to be so clothed, and hence go to various extremes to accomplish this. For some, this attire is not confined to after-school clothing, as various subtle and not so subtle attempts are made to modernise school uniforms, which invariably result in children looking like they are dressed for a social occasion.

'Bling' can also be seen in hairstyles and facial hair, in both boys and girls. Many will go to great extreme and cost to have their hair done in these so-called fashionable styles. One wonders if this time and attention would not be better spent on school work for which grades and certificates are awarded.

On Tuesday some students of Camperdown High School demonstrated after they were sent home for wearing the incorrect school shoes. The principal told a talk show host on Wednesday that they had been warned from as far back as September last year that the shoes would not be tolerated beyond the end of the Christmas term. These children continued to wear these 'bling' shoes - which they proudly modelled on national television - into the Easter term, and now the month of March.

Shocking news

The girls exhibited great energy as they protested the punishment handed down by their principal. But what must be the most shocking piece of the news item, indeed the entire newscast, was the response of someone identified as an education officer employed to the Ministry of Education, and being paid by the taxpayers of Jamaica, myself included.

The female education officer clearly believed the girls were correct in their response to the school's principal, and her demeanour and dress seemed to suggest that she was a supporter of 'bling'.

She suggested that the principal should have written letters to the parents of the small group of delinquents before sending them home. The principal, on the other hand, has explained that the matter was discussed at meetings of the Parent-Teacher Association, and quite rightly decided that enough is enough.

But why should the principal decide to put her foot down? Simple, school is the first place outside the home that one learns rules. Break one rule in school, and pay no penalty, then social rules can be ignored in a similar manner, with terrible consequences. Those who have no regard for the lives of others, have no difficulty in shooting to death a sleeping two-year-old baby.

Several decades ago, as a student of St. Hugh's High School, hundreds of girls there had to abide by the rules of the school, and I am yetto see how these rules have had a negative impact on my life. School taught me discipline and respect, and this was reinforced by my mother and brothers and sisters at home.

We cannot compete

Those who believe that it is right to support children in the breaking of a school rule are not to be encouraged. Teachers have a hard task to instil discipline, and as a country we should all work to assist them in this process. But to do this we must look the part of disciplinarians. We cannot seem to be competing with children who seek to 'bling' up their uniform.

Educators need to concentrate more on making school a place of constant interest, and hesitating and halting statements from adults are clearly not the best example to set for girls who need articulate role models to emulate.

Principals such as Cynthia Cooke are to be encouraged. Continue to take the 'bling' from education.