The Dominica State College (DSC) Journalism Club addressed the issue of violence in shools at its bi-annual forum held on Wednesday.
The DSC forum comes just weeks after two students of the Dominica Grammar School were suspended for physically attacking two teachers at the school in separate incidents.
One of the speakers at the event, Mayor of Roseau, Cecil Joseph appealed to law enforcers to treat students who commit violent offences as criminals.
“Spare the rod and spoil the child” Joseph warned, admonishing parents and teachers that they had the right to discipline students. He said teachers should remember that at school, they are both parents and teachers.
As for students, Joseph pointed out that their right was to go to school and that they should excercise that right by taking school seriously.
In response to a call by Police Inspector Claude Weekes for a juvenile detention centre in Dominica, to mitigate the prison effect, Joseph was adamant that such offenders needed to be punished accordingly for their crimes. “Have them do work that they don’t want to do”, he countered.
Another speaker at the forum, Principal of the Community High School, Celia Nicholas, said it was important for individuals to “respect and obey the constitution and laws of the country which says every person is entitled to freedom, rights, and respect of persons”.
“This violence is a manifestation of something else and if we are going to source a remedy we have to find out what is the root of the problem.” she stated, pointing out that there was anger in society in general and that it was not only students that needed to be looked at.
Nicholas recommended that all students study history in order to learn from the mistakes made in the past.
“The majority of the students are good students and decent human beings” she said. “We have to highlight the good that our students are doing as much as we are highlighting the bad” Nicholas asserted.
Educational psychologist Dr. Shani Shillingford,also addressed the forum, contending that violence starts in the home and that violent behaviour can be lessened if individuals attempt to understand the causes and aim to end it while the child is still young.
Students from Dominica Grammar School, the Orion Academy, Wesley High School, and Zion high school and primary school, attended the DSC journalism club event and participated in a question and answer session which followed the speeches.
That was a great initiative from the DSC Jourbalism Club. Let’s hope the rest of society, especially, leadership in all quarters, come to appreciate the urgency and seriousness our youth are taking in this escalating juvenile crime.
Great comment.
Just want to encourage the young people of the DSC for hosting such activity. I just wish more of the young men in our society were present.In my opinion, inferiority and insecurity are the two elements thta leads to this deviant behaviour.
My pray for our Nation is that our people would be strong and healthy an full of Godly revernce fear and respect each other. May the Good Lord Bless our young people with purpose and destiny.
Its good to see the DSC Journalism Club addressing this topic, and it being supported to such an extent. However, why are some of the more interesting parts of this forum not highlighted in the article? The speaker from the College and some very interesting questions and their responses from the panelists are not even mentioned.
where are all the young boys that think they ganstar the school should have sent them to that forum so thy can learn somthig.some thing i think the school can do more than just the core subjects.
Educational psychologist Dr. Shani Shillingford is right
People aren’t born monsters – Rather they are created
Childhood environments can be toxic & permanently debilitating especially to the youth
Centuries of studies in the area of violent behavior have uncovered a few important commonalities:
Low self-esteem leads to criminality and violence
Thus, in my mind, if I were to see a significant increase in criminality and violence my first concern is to evaluate the self-esteem of the culture.
Is there a prevailing loss of self-esteem, and/or increase in self loathing due to a diminishing local cultural pride?
If so – then what is the source of this diminishing pride among the people: A perceived lack of opportunities upon which to self actualize? Or some other perceived (whether real or imagined) lack of accomplishment? etc.
The youth of a nation are the future of a nation. They are energetic and idealistic. However, the culture must take active measures to harness their energetic and idealistic traits in a positive fashion. A culture must take a hands-on approach to guiding the youthful energy in a positive direction; and reinforce their accomplishments with public reward and celebrity!
A people must raise the youth – Don’t leave it up to the government nor the school system; And do not leave it up to the yough themselves and the TV!