Knives and Machetes at School?

Knives and machetes at school? I read this report and thought back at the days when I was a schoolgirl and knew no school I ever went to would of tolerated this. Apparently according to a report by the Jamaica Observer, some school children are leaving their weapons outside the school gates with the local vendors. My question would be why are they bringing knives to school anyway?

The superintendent told the Observer that these vendors were "major players" in this illicit activity that has greatly assisted students involved in gang feuds at schools across the island. In fact, Forbes said that when these weapons are handed back to the youngsters at the end of the day they usually figure very prominently in clashes at transportation hubs and other points where students gather — sometimes with deadly consequences.

In October, two students — one in Kingston and the other in St Mary — died in violence involving schoolchildren. Both students were stabbed to death. Head of the St Andrew Central Police Division, Superintendent Derrick Knight, also told the Observer that last month there were reports of around 10 violent clashes among schoolchildren in his division alone.

Source: Jamaica Observer

Students find Creative Ways To Smuggle Drugs

Well, I gotta give it to them, Students have found some really creative ways to smuggle drugs into the classrooms. The Star has reported that Students have brought illicit substances onto the school grounds in ties, inhalers, pens, even asthma pumps.

"The police say that several students in Schools in Portmore, St. Catherine, have been arrested and charged for possession and smoking of marijuana since January. Most of these arrests were made on school compounds or nearby."


"The police will have our support...We cannot allow one student with weed to infect the other students, we would want the police to have a zero tolerance...," he said."

Teacher have to Learn how to Shoot

It seems when you come out of Mico College that you have to have credentials stating you can shoot gun. This is whatt sounds like with the proposal for teachers to assist the police department in Jamaica.

Education Minister Andrew Holness believes teachers are more aware of the problems in schools than anyone and would know exactly what to do if they were given the proper powers. He has proposed that teachers would be allowed to search the students, but not carry guns or handcuffs just detain the students until the police arrive.

This action was prompted by e some assaults in the schools recently that, temporarily closed a number of schools last month, including one in which two girls attacked a female vice principal. In addition separate incidents resulted in the violent deaths of three high school students on local campuses at the start of the year.


Come on, you ever see a quite school teacher try to apprehend a big horse tearing bwoy and hold him down until the police come? Students don't fight with fists anymore, seems like all the students carry guns or knives now.

This will mean that pretty soon the schools in Jamaica might look like the ones in New York City, with bars on the windows.




Holness believes the idea wouldn't distract from teaching but add to it, allowing those at the head of the class to do their jobs without worrying that teens who disobey, create trouble or incite violence would simply be allowed to walk away with no immediate consequences. He also maintains law abiding students would benefit from having a safer environment to learn in.

On Monday, the Observer reported acting assistant commandant of the Island Special Constabulary Force, Desmond Brooks, as saying that the selected teachers will receive initial training from the police during the summer holidays.

The training, Brooks said, would give the teachers the authority of special constables.

What Is Happening to the Kids in Jamaica?

Granted when I was going to school in Jamaica we didn't have " Internet" or "Cell phone," so taking pictures of sex acts and transmitting them were not on the curriculum. I read an article yesterday in the Jamaican Observer (by Mark Wignall), where he is discussing students having sex on the stairwell, and other children video taping this. I was shocked to say the least. Where were the teachers?

I know I am going to sound old fashion, but in my school days, you couldn't even hold a boy hand in your school uniform, without facing a caning or other disciplinary actions. Apparently Close-ups of the genitalia are given and as the camera pans to the girl smiling, one male voice in the audience says, 'Him nah use no boots,' indicative of the boy having sex without a condom.

It is so hard for the teachers. With this level of disrespect increasing the teachers (even if they were there) are being ignored. I feel that sometimes taking away the "corporal punishment" in the schools (although some teachers were abusing their authority) have led to this "loose" behavior. The school uniform was something of pride. If you did your dirt an slackness you didn't do it in your school clothes.

This behavior is affecting the students G-Stat results as well. Sadly with the increase of "Single Mothers" in Jamaica, not much discipline is in the home as well. Girls having babies at 10 and 13 is not uncommon. One school teacher in Mr Wignall's article states, "It is not uncommon to have 14 year old videotaping their body parts and bragging about how many times they have had sex.

The mentality of children having sex needs to change throughout Jamaica. Aids in on the rise, as well as other STD's. Many of the fathers think it is a "right of passage" for their young boys to "Deflower" a girl when she is just approaching puberty or in puberty. Social pressure from other girls cause many of these girls to say, "YES" when a young man pressures them for sex.

Many men have so many children scattered throughout Jamaica that if their was a "genetic reason " for that father to be "traced" to assist that child with a blood transfusion that it would be impossible. The main reason being that so many young girls won't say who the child's father is and often times has other people raising their child as the father. (as we say, "dem get jacket)

What is happening to our kids is no joke. It is a sad testimony of children who have lost respect for themselves. Who don't honor their bodies. Who feel it is alright to do this. Sadly the school is the new breeding ground.