Don’t vilify, rally around Calabar

THE EDITOR, Madam:

As a graduate of Calabar High School and former member of Calabar Cadet Unit, I feel compelled to respond to Dale Britton’s letter ‘Those Calabar lockouts’. Calabar is not merely an institution – it is a beacon of discipline, scholarship and national pride. Generations of young men have emerged as leaders, scholars, and patriots. That legacy is not accidental; it is the result of a culture that values structure, accountability and excellence.

The recent incident involving students being locked out over uniform infractions has understandably sparked concern. However, it is important to view this situation not solely through the lens of administrative action, but also through the broader social context. The school’s enforcement of its dress code, while perhaps firm, reflects a commitment to standards that have long defined Calabar’s identity. These standards are not arbitrary – they are part of the school’s effort to instil discipline and pride in its students.

What is often overlooked in these discussions is the role of the home. The breakdown in parenting and the absence of consistent guidance outside the school walls are contributing factors that cannot be ignored. Schools like Calabar are increasingly expected to fill the gaps left by absent fathers, overwhelmed mothers, and fractured households. When students arrive at school with dyed hair, improper uniforms, or a disregard for rules, it is often a symptom of deeper issues – issues that begin long before the school bell rings.

Calabar’s administration, led by Principal Sian-Mahay Wilson, faces the difficult task of balancing compassion with order. While the Ministry of Education has advised against lockouts, we must also ask: what tools remain when parental involvement is lacking and students are resistant to correction?

Rather than vilify the school, we should rally around it. We should support its efforts to maintain high standards while encouraging more nuanced disciplinary approaches – ones that include counselling, mentorship, and parental engagement. But let us not pretend that the school alone bears the burden. The home must be held accountable. Parents must partner with educators, not leave them to shoulder the full weight of raising Jamaica’s young men.

Calabar remains one of Jamaica’s finest institutions – not because it is perfect, but because it laser focussed on the utmost of the highest, always.

LANCEDALE FARQUHARSON