PARENTS and students of the graduating class of 2013 of St John’s College are up in arms about a decision by the Anglican Central Education Authority to cancel this year’s graduation ceremony and senior prom.
The decision reportedly came as a result of a series of “impudent acts” by the students which included a prank where the graduates set their phones off during a special mass on Thursday.
The straw that broke the camel’s back for school officials was a video circulated on social media sites and Youtube that showed the students dancing in a hyper-sexual manner.
Anglican Archbishop Laish Boyd reported the board’s decision to parents of the graduating class during an impromptu meeting on Friday evening.
While students were denied entry to the meeting they were told by their parents afterward that neither Tuesday’s graduation ceremony nor the Emerald Ball (the name of the school’s prom) would take place.
A statement from the ACEA released yesterday said that their decision was a response to the student’s behaviour which they viewed as “a breach of ACEA policies and school rules which misrepresented the organization and showed total disregard for the Anglican ethos.”
The ACEA operates four schools on three islands. Its stated Mission is to offer “… a well-rounded educational product that fosters the development of students’ spiritual, academic, physical, social, and emotional well-being thereby affording their relevancy and adaptability for future citizenship and life in an ever changing global environment.”
“Consistent with the Mission, we strongly believe that all of our students must be keenly aware of the direct relationship between actions and consequences. It is with this in mind, and after having considered a troubling sequence of events, inclusive of gross insubordination, deceit, and an overall unwillingness to submit to the ordinary procedures and protocols, that the aforementioned decision was taken,” the statement said.
While the ACEA’s handbook is silent on what behaviour would constitute a reason to cancel its school’s graduation ceremony or prom, it does list as a reason for a suspension of a student, “The publication of unacceptable material in the media, world-wide web or print.”
Parents were also informed that they were not going to be refunded their $300 graduation fees. Reports are that an off duty policeman provided security at the meeting and a slideshow of “inappropriate behaviour” by the graduating class was also displayed at this meeting.
Parents and students took to social media sites over the weekend to voice their disgust.
“I don’t know about anyone else but something is DEFINITELY wrong with this picture. I have worked extremely hard from kindergarten up to now. I have always been on the honour roll, an exceptionally bright student, a proud representative of the school at sporting events and many more and was even chosen as Deputy Head Girl. But obviously the Bishop and Administrators have made a call.
“They have not only hurt us as a Graduating Class of 2013, a class who acts as a family would, but they have hurt our own families. They have wounded us and them and pretty much said to each and every one of us and our parents … ‘Thanks for the money and too bad!‘... And it is WRONG,” one student said.
In the end, the ACEA said that it hopes that the parents, students and general public will find its “principled position” instructive for “all students in Anglican schools as well as for others.”
Comments
goodread 11 years, 5 months ago
was the video recorded on school grounds?
myzb242 11 years, 5 months ago
There were two videos one of the motorcade out on the street & the other with them doing the dance on school campus. The schools cafeteria, classrooms and auditorium could be clearly seen in the background.
MartGM 11 years, 5 months ago
I'm very proud of the Anglican School Board for taking a stand against all this vulgarity!! Why would you pull a prank during MASS!!! Come on, have a little respect. Whether Anglican or not, you're disrespecting another person's religion and that is never okay.
I hope these students learned a valuable lesson this year.
Newton's 3rd Law of motion: To every action there is always an equal and opposite reaction!
ThisIsOurs 11 years, 5 months ago
I agree with the board, the students no doubt thought it extremely funny when their cell phones went off interrupting the mass...(did they have on their school uniforms when they did the dance?) If you do not squash these infractions in the bud, what will next year's class do to be unique, strip to their underwear? I'm sure there are some innocent people caught up in the mess and that is unfortunate.
Parents need to look at the bigger picture and the unspoken signals that we send these young children that telling them they are in charge and no one can tell them what to do, wear or say.
lazybor 11 years, 5 months ago
very well said
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Gbernard4 11 years, 5 months ago
Quote: “I don’t know about anyone else but something is DEFINITELY wrong with this picture. I have worked extremely hard from kindergarten up to now. I have always been on the honour roll, an exceptionally bright student, a proud representative of the school at sporting events and many more and was even chosen as Deputy Head Girl. But obviously the Bishop and Administrators have made a call.
“They have not only hurt us as a Graduating Class of 2013, a class who acts as a family would, but they have hurt our own families. They have wounded us and them and pretty much said to each and every one of us and our parents … ‘Thanks for the money and too bad!‘... And it is WRONG,” one student said. - End quote.
Yes, there is something wrong with that picture: this particular student feels that she is above reproach because her individual actions may not have been called into question. The problem is, she also mentioned her student body to be a 'family' (see second paragraph). I don't know about her, but in my family, we were raised to share responsibility, and face consequences for our actions (or lack thereof). Not only that, but I'm sure we've all heard the now-cliché saying: "One bad apple can spoil the bunch". In the case of the St John's students, it was a apparently a whole bunch of apples that ruined it for a few good ones. Tsk Tsk.
Action: Students deliberately behaved badly, and in direct conflict with the school's code of conduct. Consequence: graduation and prom are canceled. If this student felt so strongly about having such a consequence occur, perhaps she should've been more instrumental in preaching to her student 'family' to stop behaving the way they did. We do not (nor should not) live in a society that says "Sure, do what you want, contrary to the rules, and don't worry about accepting responsibility."
It's a shame that for those exemplary students, an otherwise-wonderful experience had to be sacrificed; however, the moral of this story is accountability. If your student family is just that - a family, please ensure that they express solidarity as a family should, and uphold all the values that make them special. Failure to do so will invariably break the family, and often with unfortunate results. Just my 2 cents.
banker 11 years, 5 months ago
Finally someone has courage to say enough is enough to a cadre of young people with an inordinate sense of entitlement without personal responsibility. The Bahamas needs more of this.
TimeForChange 11 years, 5 months ago
I am a member of the Anglican church community and have been all my life, growing up in church I was taught to have respect for myself to conduct myself accordingly and to respect my elders. Looking around at the church today this generation I can clearly see has none of those values that was taught to me as a young child and what was displayed in the Anglican church I grew up in. Even with the way the young children are dressed in church its not respectable anymore but that's how the parents allow their children to dress. As for this situation of cancelling graduation I applaud the Bishop for taking a stand and punishing the graduating class my only disappointment in that is those persons who may not have participated in those actions have to suffer as well because of what their peers did. But I think its high time these children start to be punished because for too long they have been out of control acting like no one has any authority over them and cant tell them what to do. I have seen the video of these dances those children were portraying and my opinion it was extremely vulgar and disrespectful so they deserve to be punished!
PKMShack 11 years, 5 months ago
Stand firm Bishop, hold them accountable, a step in the right direction. Good place to start with getting our country back on track. Start with the youth since THEY say we have to reach them. Good job. The government could take lessons a man with a back bone,,,(,if they don't fold under pressure from parents and others). Their fellow students should blame their peers for the outcome.
marrcus 11 years, 5 months ago
PKM, Well said. Lets review the video, if there is to be ANY compromise or retraction, let it not include the offenders. Link?
TalRussell 11 years, 5 months ago
Mirror mirror on the wall. If the school cannot keep their students from engaging in behavior that the reverend doesn't approve of, what will happen to these kids after leaving school to enter the real world? If you can't trust them to behave now, then what morals and lessons has the school taught them these past years?
blueothello 11 years, 5 months ago
The students who agreed to take part in this should be ashamed of themselves. They have jeopardized the entire graduation process for the others. The good now have to suffer for their dirty, nasty, disgusting behaviour. Whichever knuckleheaded grade12 students and members of admin decided this was a good idea, really has a serious lack of judgement. They have brought shame and indignity on their school. This is not just the students fault; admin and parents need to take their share of the blame too.
All students signed a two contracts (once in grade 11 another in grade 12) to say that their academic and conduct would be acceptable to the Anglican ethos. It is now obvious that those involved in this stupidity (students and admin), don't understand what anglican/christian conduct is supposed to entail. Many of these students and adults supposedly sat, participated and led Mass every week for TWELVE YEARS taking in Anglican/Christian principles, as well as going to church, on weekends.
Now if the senior students didn't know by last week that certain music and types of dancing was not christian during those years, and still can't figure it out, then either they weren't listening properly, or the school,or their parents weren't doing their job. It doesn't matter if they saw others doing it, still doesn't make it right, and all students had a chance to make a decision to say "No, I'm not doing that because it goes against the principles that my parents and my school has instilled in me.".
From my understanding of what happens on campus, dances are held in the same place where mass is done, and various administrations and priests continued to turn a blind eye to what was going on in these dances. SJC Students would tell you they want lights off and don't like adults at these dances. A good rule of thumb is, if it is a dance that someone would be embarrassed to do in front of parents, grandparents, in church in front of their minister, or where the lights need to be off, then it's wrong to do. Period.
blueothello 11 years, 5 months ago
The questions that need to be asked are
Which ones of the graduating class stood up and said "No, don't do it!"? Someone from the graduation class needed to speak up and against this vulgarity. There had to be a few good students with character and integrity who could have pleaded with someone, either peer or staff for this not to happen. Head boy, head girl, student council president where were you? If you are a student leader, lead your peers from the front with decorum and integrity. Those students in positions of authority, you let the fools hijack and usurp your position to show you are a irresponsible graduating class! You all stood by and let it happen!
Where was the admin (principal, v.p, senior master, senior mistress, the priest) while all of this was going on? In fact, where were they period during when all of these dances were going on? There were MANY MANY MANY opportunities over the MANY MANY MANY years and different administrations to challenge this vulgarity, including the choice of not having a selector play certain types of music, or not to have a dance at all, but no one in power bothered to do a thing. It would be a travesty of justice and be hypocritical of the ACEA, if these students who are being kept from graduating, but those in power at SJC, who approved this fiasco, and everything else that has gone on, keep their jobs. They sat back and let the "inmates run the prison" so to speak. Heads at SJC need to roll.
Who was driving the school bus whilst it was bouncing up and down on the road? Was that reported?
Which parent of one of these students will agree publicly that what was done was wrong, and that the Bishop has a right to be angry, and for what it's worth, his position to cancel everything has merit?
Which parent knew that these things were going on for years, but said nothing, and did nothing to stop this from happening? If you are not part of the solution, then you are a part of the problem.
For the sake of the almighty dollar the leadership of the school has sold not only their souls, but all of the souls of the students of SJC to the devil. When one has sowed the wind, one will reap the whirlwind. For all of that I wish SJC and the ACEA the very best.
Stapedius 11 years, 5 months ago
Now we see what fuels the crime and nonsense in this country. Parents. They say why didn't the school stop them while on parade? But why didn't the parents of these children stop them from the lewd acts? They were on the parade as well. Like most private church schools in the country SJC has rules. If you don't like the rules then don't go there. Simple.
TalRussell 11 years, 5 months ago
Some believe this occurrence can be turned it a positive wake-up call for every school in Bahamaland. I, for one do not believe this is some isolated behavior. It has run much deeper, in the classrooms, hallways, playgrounds of their school. The good reverend must accept some personal responsibility and not lay the blame solely on students, like this has come as a total shocked to him and his board. Long before anyone ever stands before a judge to answer to a criminal matter, they've passed through our broken education system. I can see from some of these parents comments that they too have missed the boat when it comes to the rearing of their children. Of course i feel for the parents of the students not involved. Equally, I cry shame on any parent who thinks their child's behavior is acceptable. No wonder MP's get slapped around in the House. Wouldn't it be interesting to look back to examine the behavioral trends of some of our MP's, when they too were preparing for prom night? Maybe they would be acting differently in the House, if only their prom night had been canceled?
ThisIsOurs 11 years, 5 months ago
Wow Tal, I fully agree with you
Concerned 11 years, 5 months ago
I fully agree with this post. Members of Parliament, Cabinet ministers and our Prime Minister can learn much from the decisive, hard and resolute decision made by the bishop. Well done, Bishop, well done indeed.
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