EDITORIAL - Consider social workers

In recent years, the question on whether or not social workers should be placed in schools across the island has been raised on numerous occasions, and it has resulted in debates ensuing as there are persons who are for and those who are against the proposal.

Admittedly, the question is usually posed when the issue of violence at school and among school children rears its ugly head, as has been the case within the past few months.We think it is a matter that needs to be settled soon, and it is our belief that the decision should come down in favour of such professionals being employed within the educational system.

We know there are some persons who will argue that the State cannot afford to employ yet another set of civil servants; but quite frankly, we contend that it is in the State’s best interest to create those posts, as these children are the ones in who we will entrust our country for generations to come.

Now we appreciate both arguments and see the rationale behind them, but we are in fact swayed more towards the latter argument, especially given the increasing challenges and peer pressure children face today, and the challenges they in turn pose for teachers in both the primary secondary school systems. We must be cognisant of the things that are responsible for their deviant behaviour, including learning disabilities and problems in the home which can cause them to act out.

If we also take into consideration that the prevailing economic environment has seen a number of people being laid off in the private and public sectors and there have been numerous increases in taxes, which by extension has increased the cost of living, we cannot deny that it is more than peer pressure our children face. These are factors that impact the society and there is no doubt that the children are also being affected – and it is our belief that social workers, working with the children and their parents – can help them to come up with techniques to better cope with their problems.

Some children cannot properly handle the pressures of life and school and act out. While this behaviour is not in keeping with what is considered acceptable, we cannot always treat to it in a punitive manner. So rather than looking to punish them, it is imperative to understand the root cause of the behaviour, and work with them to develop more positive behaviours. This, we feel, is a role that social workers can play.

We understand that this idea of school-based social workers was put to the Ministry of Education on numerous occasions, and we think it is clear now that the time is ripe for the authorities within the Ministry of Education, the Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Civil Service to give it their seal of approval and come up with a plan to ensure that social workers can be placed in every school. Understandably, this may not be possible at the very beginning, as there may not be enough persons qualified in the field; however, a teams of social workers can be created and from that group, they can be assigned to work with students as needed.

As a society, we need to be proactive rather than reactive, and move with alacrity to address the growing problems we are seeing in our schools. Failure to put the necessary measures in place now could only prove disastrous for our young people and society at large in the future.