Nassau/The Bahamas has me scared.

First, a stabbing death at C.V. Bethel and now another alleged stabbing at St. Johns College. (If anything, it proves that public or private school, it doesn't matter; it's about the child). Where are we going wrong?

it's a number of things really. i know from experience, it isn't just one thing you can point a finger at. my life has been threatened twice and honestly i have considered carrying a knife for protection purposes but concluded that it would only create more problems instead of a solution. i hope the youth of the country wake up soon.

In my opinion it is simply the matter of some mothers having kids before they are ready for the responsibility, as well as not having a strong father of the child/family/parent to assist them in raising their child(ren).

Today’s kids physically grow up very fast, but their mental capacity leaves much to be desired. Combine their stunted childhoods with the type of society that prevails and the entire situation is a perfect recipe for disaster. Fast money, fast food, fast lives – few want to take the time to do anything properly nowadays. While I’m all for the rapid development of this society, we have imposed certain elements into it without: 1. looking at the possible social ramifications and 2. preparing our people to stand against the inevitable breakdown of essential parts of our family and community structure due to lack of planning.

Another thing is that too many kids control their parents, not the other way around. With broken marriages, separations and other parental relationship problems, kids have learned to pit their mother and father against each other in a twisted game of “if you don’t let me do it or get that for me, mom/dad will allow me to do it/will get it for me instead”. Overworked parents with little time to spend with their kids then fall into this guilt-trip of getting their children whatever they want or letting them act however they want without building in a tiered reward factor based on good behaviour.

And lastly, a good cut-behind never hurt anyone. Can you say public floggings? Some of these kids laugh in the face of the counsellors who try to help them. We need to shake the dust off of the cat-o-nine tails (sp). Sounds harsh and in today's politically correct times some may even protest against it, but we are not dealing with kids who respond to "time-outs". If public floggings are what it takes to break the wayward spirit of a high-school child so that it can be rebuilt properly, do it. Our society is all we have...whatever it takes.

We all know that it will escalate to a kid bringing his dad's gun to school. It's inevitable.

Kid's see the news about the killings at Columbine High School and the recent one at the Indian reservation. They feel the pressure of bullies and drug dealers. They get mad at the world (like all kids do during adolescence and puberty) and being so desensitized to violence and murder, commit it themselves.

As shocking as the incidents are - and I am totally sympathetic to the families and friends - it is not uncommon in this modern world. We aren't as insulated from the outside influences as we think we are.

We all know that it will escalate to a kid bringing his dad's gun to school. It's inevitable.

Kid's see the news about the killings at Columbine High School and the recent one at the Indian reservation. They feel the pressure of bullies and drug dealers. They get mad at the world (like all kids do during adolescence and puberty) and being so desensitized to violence and murder, commit it themselves.

As shocking as the incidents are - and I am totally sympathetic to the families and friends - it is not uncommon in this modern world. We aren't as insulated from the outside influences as we think we are.

Well you know black people follow everything the white people do!
Are their metal detectors at the schools, school security guards?
Safety is key, we live in a changing world and this is the reality of the madness.

In my opinion it is simply the matter of some mothers having kids before they are ready for the responsibility, as well as not having a strong father of the child/family/parent to assist them in raising their child(ren).

Today’s kids physically grow up very fast, but their mental capacity leaves much to be desired. Combine their stunted childhoods with the type of society that prevails and the entire situation is a perfect recipe for disaster. Fast money, fast food, fast lives – few want to take the time to do anything properly nowadays. While I’m all for the rapid development of this society, we have imposed certain elements into it without: 1. looking at the possible social ramifications and 2. preparing our people to stand against the inevitable breakdown of essential parts of our family and community structure due to lack of planning.

Another thing is that too many kids control their parents, not the other way around. With broken marriages, separations and other parental relationship problems, kids have learned to pit their mother and father against each other in a twisted game of “if you don’t let me do it or get that for me, mom/dad will allow me to do it/will get it for me instead”. Overworked parents with little time to spend with their kids then fall into this guilt-trip of getting their children whatever they want or letting them act however they want without building in a tiered reward factor based on good behaviour.

And lastly, a good cut-behind never hurt anyone. Can you say public floggings? Some of these kids laugh in the face of the counsellors who try to help them. We need to shake the dust off of the cat-o-nine tails (sp). Sounds harsh and in today's politically correct times some may even protest against it, but we are not dealing with kids who respond to "time-outs". If public floggings are what it takes to break the wayward spirit of a high-school child so that it can be rebuilt properly, do it. Our society is all we have...whatever it takes.


"BRING BACK THE SWITCH"
"BRING BACK THE SWITCH"
"BRING BACK THE SWITCH"
"BRING BACK THE SWITCH"
"BRING BACK THE SWITCH"

Nassau/The Bahamas has me scared.

First, a stabbing death at C.V. Bethel and now another alleged stabbing at St. Johns College. (If anything, it proves that public or private school, it doesn't matter; it's about the child). Where are we going wrong?


I stand corrected. It was Government High School instead of St. John's where the second stabbing went down.

In my opinion it is simply the matter of some mothers having kids before they are ready for the responsibility, as well as not having a strong father of the child/family/parent to assist them in raising their child(ren).

Today’s kids physically grow up very fast, but their mental capacity leaves much to be desired. Combine their stunted childhoods with the type of society that prevails and the entire situation is a perfect recipe for disaster. Fast money, fast food, fast lives – few want to take the time to do anything properly nowadays. While I’m all for the rapid development of this society, we have imposed certain elements into it without: 1. looking at the possible social ramifications and 2. preparing our people to stand against the inevitable breakdown of essential parts of our family and community structure due to lack of planning.

Another thing is that too many kids control their parents, not the other way around. With broken marriages, separations and other parental relationship problems, kids have learned to pit their mother and father against each other in a twisted game of “if you don’t let me do it or get that for me, mom/dad will allow me to do it/will get it for me instead”. Overworked parents with little time to spend with their kids then fall into this guilt-trip of getting their children whatever they want or letting them act however they want without building in a tiered reward factor based on good behaviour.

And lastly, a good cut-behind never hurt anyone. Can you say public floggings? Some of these kids laugh in the face of the counsellors who try to help them. We need to shake the dust off of the cat-o-nine tails (sp). Sounds harsh and in today's politically correct times some may even protest against it, but we are not dealing with kids who respond to "time-outs". If public floggings are what it takes to break the wayward spirit of a high-school child so that it can be rebuilt properly, do it. Our society is all we have...whatever it takes.


I agree with everything except the cut-behind/public floggings. As a victim of mistaken recrimination, I can attest to the fact that it can be very damaging.

I agree with everything except the cut-behind/public floggings. As a victim of mistaken recrimination, I can attest to the fact that it can be very damaging.


No Teacher has the right to touch a student. This has been the law for as long as I can remember, world wide. If they did 'flog' the student that student can sue the school and press charges against the teacher, especially if they area child, then it is child abuse.

Teachers dont have the experience to deal with those situations, they dont have the training nor do they know the childs background enough. Leave that to the parents.

If they break the law, then lock them up. That is the law.

Let's be more specific. I wasn't making reference to flogging in response to an average discipline problem. What I’m talking about in particular is the level that exceeds the boundaries of the school system (e.g. Stabbings - a criminal offence). I would hope that a teacher wouldn’t be responsible for dealing with mandating punishment in that instance.

On a more proactive, but related note, bringing police officers into the school system (like Jamaica has) would be a good move. So far their program has been very successful in increasing the level of discipline in their youth. Matters of extreme violence and criminal behaviour are dealt with immediately and by persons who know how to handle the situation. I believe everyone in the school system would probably feel a lot safer – especially when students in these times go so far as to even drop-kick school officials (which HAS happened here in Nassau).

Let's be more specific. I wasn't making reference to flogging in response to an average discipline problem. What I’m talking about in particular is the level that exceeds the boundaries of the school system (e.g. Stabbings - a criminal offence). I would hope that a teacher wouldn’t be responsible for dealing with mandating punishment in that instance.

On a more proactive, but related note, bringing police officers into the school system (like Jamaica has) would be a good move. So far their program has been very successful in increasing the level of discipline in their youth. Matters of extreme violence and criminal behaviour are dealt with immediately and by persons who know how to handle the situation. I believe everyone in the school system would probably feel a lot safer – especially when students in these times go so far as to even drop-kick school officials (which HAS happened here in Nassau).



true .. im all for public floggings in rawson square :D

Just before I posted this, I was reading an articel in the Guardian about a student that yanked a Teachers hair extensions. Well read the story here:

http://www.nassauguardian.net/national_local/337388816752735.php

I agree that Teachers shouldnt lay their hands on kids, why? Because the brats are hitting back, in some cases inflicting serious harm on teachers.
Wen need to introduce a constant police presence in our public schools, there seems to be no other way. Teachers are being put into potentially dangerous situations, there safety should be a major factor to take into consideration.

There also appears to be a shift in power from teachers to students. That is a dangerous situation, because you will find students taking it to their advantage, and it will hamper any good teaching enviroment, when a teacher feels powerless over their students actions in class.

I dont want to hear about some student getting stupid and bringing a gun to school and trying to enialate everyone in site, as they do in the United States. We have to be careful here, I sense a burgeoning problem.

i'm not for any teaching laying their hands on a kid in most cicurmstances because teachers bring emotional baggage from home as well and often look for a way to vent off some of that frustration. i can list how many times i got lashings because teachers chose to listen to a few students instead of asking me personally what happened. (kinda explains why i have a strong dislike towards the status quo) and i am forever having this argument with my family, teachers are not infallable, and i admit neither are students. I moved from my first school because after 3 years i got tired of being singled out on a daily basis (the most memorable occasion was when i was in the 8th grade and the substitute teacher threw me from my seat in the literal sense because apparently i looked like a very evil young man, this is what he told me to my face) honestly if he wasnt so much bigger than me at the time i dont know what i would have done because once you lay hands on someone especially in that manner you can not always expect the other person to remain in a rational state of mind.

Good points, but before fingers start-a-pointing at teachers let's bring it back a notch to the students who are stabbing each other and causing these violent situations in our school system.

I can list how many times i got lashings because teachers chose to listen to a few students instead of asking me personally what happened. (kinda explains why i have a strong dislike towards the status quo) . . . [sic].

I moved from my first school because after 3 years i got tired of being singled out on a daily basis (the most memorable occasion was when i was in the 8th grade and the substitute teacher threw me from my seat in the literal sense because apparently i looked like a very evil young man, this is what he told me to my face) . . . [sic].

I thought it was only me with those kinds of problems. I too moved from my former high school because of the stress. It was a private school, and my parents too wondered what was my problem, although, I was not the cause. Because teachers are not equipped to deal with instances occurring beneath the surface, it only adds to the real problem.