Indiscipline has become a national problem. Regrettably, it is evident from our highest house of Parliament, to public workers, schools and at every rung of our social ladder. Indiscipline has grown into a ravaging monster of seemingly, uncontrollable proportion.Petty indiscipline in schools at all levels has existed from the beginning, but the degree of rudeness, affront, violence and vandalism among our secondary school students, is an undesirable dose of our modern social chemistry which must now be closely examined and brought under control.When we emerged as an independent nation in 1962, our people deliberated to erase the colonial past and establish a new order of national identity. In that thrust, we blindly casted away our inherited legacy of good manners, respect, desirable work attitude, genuine aspiration, pride and tolerance as we continue to blame and lick at the scars of slavery and indentureship, while oblivious to our retrogression into another form of dependency and slavery to other foreign influences.
The agony, hardship and humiliation through the struggle to independence, had created in us, oneness–the unity of peoples from diverse geographic origins into a unique nation of warm, hospitable and accommodating people. We proudly stood out as the perfect world model of cosmopolitanism; a paradise.Today, there are still fragments of that perfect dream, crying out for survival in the midst of a growing appetite for savage pleasure, which is so graphically dramatised in public performances, especially so, at Carnival time. These are the models of indiscipline, vulgarity and obscenity.
The repulsive appearance, debased and uncivilised attitude, the violence and crude adult language as projected in many TV shows, are now practised by groups of delinquents.Concerned parents and teachers are raising silent voices of protest against those shows, but this seems blatantly unheeded by irresponsible programmers, producers and sponsors. Of course it may be argued, without good reason, about the overriding economic value of the shows, not giving consideration to the immoral influence on our youths. Those shows are the distant-learning teachers of violence, providing details in the mechanics of crime.
Another disturbing factor in the lives of our youths, which contributes to the raucous behaviour, is the unlawful consumption of alcohol by juniors. This seems to be overlooked in the face of the more serious watch on the drug menace. Regrettably, it has now become commonplace to see young boys and girls, of ages ranging from 11 to 18, consuming beer, rum and related alcoholic concoctions at public bazaars, malls and wild parties.One wonders who sold them the alcoholic drinks. This demonstrates the level of irresponsibility among the adults who have acted above the law to sell alcohol to juniors. This law must be upheld in order to save our youths and to preserve a peaceful and healthy society.Many of our vehicular road accidents are the result of reckless driving and uncontrollable speed by our youths, resulting in serious injury and often, death.
Our parents and teachers are distressed and pressured by this unfortunate turn of events. This makes it timely that our Ministry of Education considers the introduction of a special Department of Reform in each secondary school, to take care, control and direct appropriate remedial approaches. To sympathetically, compassionately and firmly deal with delinquency in and out of school. A committee should be formed headed by a dean, two teachers who appear to have a grip, respect and seemingly innate psychological manner of interacting with the general student body; two senior prefects (boy and girl in the case of co-ed schools), selected parents of the PTA.
In dealing with serious cases, a school guidance councillor from the related educational district, as well as a member of the Community Policing Department must be invited to reinforce the value and importance of the project. This team must be able to command respect, and provide the assurance of trust, confidentiality and honour to their charges, and to serve as an extension of parenting in creating a feeling of self-worth and security to our youths in danger, deprivation and distress. It will serve to bring them closer, to love their schools, communities, and ultimately, adding peace, moral values and a passionate sense of patriotism to our country.
Al Ramsawak
Rousillac