The Jamaica Star :: Commentary :: The 'principals' of school arguments

ELGIN TAYLOR, STAR Writer

It appears that the practice of parents demonstrating against school principals has increased in scope and intensity over the years.

While there may be a few cases of genuine concern, the majority smack of sinister plots tinged with politics and covetousness.

The authorities and the powers that be need to pay close attention to what is happening here, otherwise such situation could become tantamount to a case of 'hole down tek weh.'

Dialogue first

One would have thought that dialogue among the parties would precede any disagreement, but this is not the usual practice. An attempt at talking is only made after the media hype and the Ministry of Education and the Jamaica Teachers' Association have carried out their initial investigations. But even then, some parents still fail to accept the fact, for example, that the correct procedure was followed in appointing the principal. And, I must add, that given the volatile environment into which education has found itself, the safety of the principal becomes an issue of paramount importance.

Involvement of students

The plot thickens if and when students are involved in the demonstration. Just imagine a group of students, parents ... and even teachers, demonstrating against their principal. How does the principal relate to these students after the incident? Or, should I say, how do these students relate to the principal following such an event?

For one thing, and this is certain as night follows day, otherwise well-behaved students will begin to show signs of poor behaviour. And, students whose behaviour was poor initially, will now show a deterioration.

The period of getting the attitudes and behaviour of these students to the pre-demonstration level should take a minimum of two years.

Of course, this can be challenged by psychologists and behaviourists, but rest assured the comparison should be pretty close. We can ill afford the derailment of our youth's education for any period of time, much less two years.

Parents and others who support dissent must be made to realise the negative impact which may accrue from their and their children's actions.

They need to get the relevant information first, and then temper their actions with the utmost caution. Education is too important a commodity to do otherwise.