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Friday, July 06, 2007
Dear Editor,
School is one of the most important socialising environments for children, since it is where they spend a great deal of time interacting with teachers and peers. However, the persistent spillover of community socio-economic conditions and violence means that schools and their surroundings are no longer protected places, but share in the day-to-day violence of the urban space (Abramovay, 2002; Gottfredson, 2001).
As a result, school violence has increased correspondingly.
In Kingston, almost 90 per cent of the students surveyed in 11 schools are worried about school violence. Twenty-one per cent of the students had attacked teachers or staff, and 22 per cent had suffered violence from other students (Gardner et al, 2003).
The following could help:
. At the individual level: specialised instruction, reinforcement of positive behaviour and counselling, mentoring and social work.
. At the school level: establishment of norms and expectations, school, classroom and discipline management, reorganisation of grades and curriculum, improvements to security and infrastructure.
. At the community level: after-school recreation and leisure activities involving the community.
Although some of these suggestions are already being implemented, they need to be reinforced and prioritised to stem the challenges to school safety in Jamaica.
Peter W Jones
5 Pawsey Place
Kingston 5
liontraders@yahoo.com
Dear Editor,
School is one of the most important socialising environments for children, since it is where they spend a great deal of time interacting with teachers and peers. However, the persistent spillover of community socio-economic conditions and violence means that schools and their surroundings are no longer protected places, but share in the day-to-day violence of the urban space (Abramovay, 2002; Gottfredson, 2001).
As a result, school violence has increased correspondingly.
In Kingston, almost 90 per cent of the students surveyed in 11 schools are worried about school violence. Twenty-one per cent of the students had attacked teachers or staff, and 22 per cent had suffered violence from other students (Gardner et al, 2003).
The following could help:
. At the individual level: specialised instruction, reinforcement of positive behaviour and counselling, mentoring and social work.
. At the school level: establishment of norms and expectations, school, classroom and discipline management, reorganisation of grades and curriculum, improvements to security and infrastructure.
. At the community level: after-school recreation and leisure activities involving the community.
Although some of these suggestions are already being implemented, they need to be reinforced and prioritised to stem the challenges to school safety in Jamaica.
Peter W Jones
5 Pawsey Place
Kingston 5
liontraders@yahoo.com
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