‘Students need love’

WESTERN BUREAU:

Some students from schools across western Jamaica are pleased that the Montego Bay Chamber of Commerce and Industry’s (MBCCI) Security Summit examined several concerns affecting them.

The summit was held on Wednesday and Thursday under the theme ‘Collective Security, Unity in Action’.

One of the panellists, Oriel Spence, head girl of Cambridge High School in St James, noted that being absent from school for two years has negatively impacted many students.

“Fights, gang wars and a lack of motivation is a burden to some students, and as a result, it leads to some of the violence you see in schools. I can also say the music that some youths listen to is a definite no-no, and I would love to take control, but I am not in the position to do so,” said Spence.

“Issues in their homes and being unable to attend school and see their friends allow them to have so much built-up anger. It is a burden on them, and all I can say is these students need love and someone to hold them, hug them and tell them that everything is going to be okay,” Spence added.

Other issues which arose as points of concern for the youth included substance abuse, bullying, and lack of attentiveness by authority figures.

Gavin Smith, deputy head boy of Spot Valley High in Rose Hall, St James, suggested that the Church could give greater focus to young people to keep them on the right path.

“Persons can better influence young people by having fellowship with them at church to guide them and counsel them. The one priority is for them to give their hearts to the Lord and let them know about the Word of God and have peace in other communities,” said Smith.

“I can tell my peers that they don’t have to do violent things; there are other things they can do such as working, being an entrepreneur, becoming whatever you want to be. This summit is a great idea because you can spread the word to people that crime is bad, evil and it will impact your country,” he added.

GRAVE CONCERN

The issue of crime and violence among Jamaica’s young people has become a significant subject in recent times, particularly with increasing reports of violent attacks in schools which have left administrators and other stakeholders gravely concerned. These include the March 21 stabbing and subsequent death of William Knibb Memorial High School student Khamal Hall in Trelawny, and the March 30 stabbing and injuring of a female student of Petersfield High School in Westmoreland.

While addressing the summit in one of several youth-focused panel discussions, St James High School Principal Joseph Williams said that while he is a stern disciplinarian, there are times when he applies the toughest love to rebellious or otherwise disruptive youngsters by transferring them to other institutions.

“I don’t call it expulsion, but what I do is, you find another school or I help you find another school. I must send a message that, for instance, if I keep this student who is so aggressive, then he might grow up and beat his wife or kill his sweetheart. We have to practise the justice system from down here in school; it must be served swiftly,” said Williams, whose school was once known for violent incidents but has since flourished under his 18-year tenure.

Some of the students got to meet and receive words of encouragement from reggae icon Ventrice ‘Queen Ifrica’ Morgan, who was one of the panellists on Wednesday.

“Music does not always influence your actions and behaviour, but words put together is an artistic way to create melodies,” Queen Ifrica told students.

“Violence was used to stop us from being violent against the things that were coming toward us as a nation, as a people, that we did not want to be part of. You can be 47 like me and not feel guilty. It is alarming that we live in a society where making it today at age 20 is an achievement for young people,” the artiste noted.

ashley.anguin@gleanerjm.com