The Tribune

EDITOR, The Tribune.

I am sure the minister of national security means well; however, any plan to incarcerate unruly students to shock them off the crime path will run into legal road blocks.

Everyone, including minors, is guaranteed certain protections. How can anyone other than a magistrate or judge in our democracy have the authority to send someone to prison, even if briefly?

Aside from that, isn’t it illegal to hold anyone under the age of 17 in jail?

A field trip to the prison, including a tour of the guts of the prison and talks with remorseful inmates about life in prison, may have the desired effect.

In addition to a discipline component, the Ministry of Education should try to reach into the hearts of these monster juvenile delinquents who are wreaking havoc on our island. Many of them are illiterate and so have no job prospects, don’t know who fathered them (who they are), have no sense of belonging (the gang is their family) and were neglected or abused as young children.

I’m sure a large number of these students did not receive proper parenting and, in many instances, their parents are to blame for their callous and criminal behaviour. Introduce PARENTING classes!

Introduce an International Baccalaureate community service-type programme, starting at the impressionable primary level, and build conflict resolution classes into the curriculum.

A number of the private schools have successfully used the IB model for years and the local expertise is available to tap into. Community service may include, for example, student tutoring (teaching others how to read) and Big Brother-type mentoring.

The IB programme is fantastic. It benefits the community through volunteer work, keeps idle hands busy and builds character by instilling in students a sense of pride and achievement. Sports is often a part of the programme and it’s amazing how young characters are positively shaped through the work, discipline and teamwork (feeling of belonging) involved in sports, marching bands and so on.

Yes, these monster kids need discipline BIG TIME! But they also need to feel wanted by people other than gang members.

Rather than treat the symptoms, treat the disease.

ATHENA DAMIANOS

Nassau,

May 9, 2014