More needed

While a former Principal lauds the Ministry of Education’s efforts to beef-up security at Frederick Smith Secondary School, he believes the problem is deeper.

Reverend Keith Griffith, who headed the Trents, St. James institution for 20 years, retiring in 2003, spoke to members of the media yesterday after addressing the student body on their first full-day back to school since the stabbing death of one student at the hands of another two weeks ago.

He made it clear that security is important, “I have no problem with the increased security. But, I am just saying that if we think increased security is going to solve the problems, that is getting it wrong. It is just one of the measures you use in the prevailing situation. But, the problem is going to be addressed when the behaviour modification takes place because it is the behaviour that causes people to behave good or bad, do right or wrong – the values that children embrace, the morals.”

“We have a Police Force, Defence Force and other agencies and we still have crime in Barbados.

“One time a teachers’ presence in the classroom meant there was instant order, it isn’t so anymore. What has gone wrong? Disorder is so rampant that people take to disorder as a way of life; disrespect is so common even in the home. So, the problem is how do we get the behavioural change – that is the fundamental problem,” he stressed.

Rev. Griffith said that weapons in schools is nothing new. In fact, he recalled that as Principal of St. James Secondary, which was renamed Frederick Smith, students brought them onto the compound, “We had a confiscation policy, we used to search periodically and we had the weapons taken to the police station or they will come for them when we call.”

“So, weapons is nothing new. We don’t want to get the impression that weapons in schools just happened overnight… But, we have reached the stage that they are being used in the schools. So, don’t get the impression it is just something that came into existence in the last two or three years, that would be a blatant disregard for truth.”
The retired Anglican Cleric also disclosed that during Assembly he took the opportunity to pray with students and staff of the school. He further emphasised the power of prayer, noting that it is critical in these situations.

“All these speeches and we don’t get divine help and go before the throne of grace, we are losing opportunities. So I wasn’t only speaking to the students – I prayed for the school and the children and the parents and the community.”

“I encouraged them to commit themselves to discipline, to learning and go forward… re-group, reorganise their lives and I encouraged some type of self-examination. Looking back now will not help, but to chart the way forward,” Rev. Griffith said. (TL)