The Editor, Sir:

I am profoundly disturbed by this upsurge of violence among our children and youths. It seems like this violence was only centred in the secondary schools but to think that it has trickled down to the primary schools is most frightening. As I read the news report of the stabbing incident at the Braeton Primary and Junior High School in Portmore, my heart cried and I was short of shedding a tear.

Over the past few months I have read with much interest the number of letters pouring into The Gleaner, one in particular, dated April 11, 2007, with the caption, "School violence makes me want to cry." I utter that sentiment out of pain and hurt for the state of our institutions of learning. I shudder to think that our schools which should be a safe environment have turned out to be a nightmare for students, parents and teachers.

As I tried to put the pieces together, my mind wandered to the old saying and practice that children must be seen and not heard'. I wonder if this practice has grown old with the generation of today. I wonder if the anger and hostility is in response to their need to be heard and be seen. I took this much further and dare to say that as teachers, parents, community and society, we may not be actively listening to our children.

From observing the current system in Jamaica, there seems to be an air of dictatorship that resonates to our children. When last have we engaged in positive verbal interaction with our children and offer warmth and gentle guidance and direction? I ask thatwe develop the propensity to reason with them instead of verbally and physically abusing them. I believe that the community can raise the child, but we have to be on the same page. There has to be collaboration with the home, school, community and the broader society. We have to take the responsibility and model acceptable and appropriate ways of solving our conflicts.

The ongoing violence in our society is not helping the situation. If our children are constantly fed with violence through demonstrations, violent music and obscene movies, they will not know that there is a non-violen to their conflicts. We have to teach and implement positive values and attitudes that can stand against the evils that seek to devour our children.

As a former guidance counsellor in Jamaica, I believe that the education system should act as a countervailing force to the family, community and society, instead of reinforcing a punitive, power assertive, authoritarian approach to relationship and resolving conflicts. In addition, there are a number of programmes in the schools such as Peace & Love in Society (PALS). The schools need to utilise and enforce these programmes and let the activities be relevant and meaningful to the unique needs of its students. Finally, the schools can educate the parents about the importance of partnership and what is expected from them. If the parents don't know, how can they give! Don't let another child die or be placed in a correctional facility.

I am, etc.,

S. CARTER

stephany-carter@sbcglobal.net

Doctoral Student in Counsellor

Education and Counselling Psychology

Cognate: School Counseling

U.S.A.