No surprise!

Director of the Criminal Justice Research and Planning Unit, Cheryl Willoughby, is not surprised by the violent incidents occurring within this country’s schools.

She reported that research carried out by her department showed that between 2012-2016, there was a 35 per cent increase in total offences committed by juveniles.

Assaults/Wounding represented the most popular category of offences committed by children ages 11 to 15 years.

“Therefore, what we are seeing now within our school system is no surprise to us,” she revealed.

“Our research is showing that assaults/wounding, violent crimes are on the increase. However, not only within the school system but on the level of the country in general.”

Willoughby, who was at the time presenting on the topic “Violence in Schools and Communities: Causes and Solutions” to The St. Michael School Parent-Teachers’ Association (PTA) last Thursday night, said there was need to look at the underlying factors.

“As a research I will always look at the underlying factors – what are those drivers that would predispose someone to be violent. Therefore, I looked at the communities from where various persons came from. And what we determined was that what we are seeing happening within the communities, especially those communities surrounding our schools, the same things were filtering into our schools,” she pointed out.

“So, therefore you must understand that the violence you are seeing now, that results from what we are actually seeing happening within our communities. School is a microcosm of the community and therefore it will filter into our school system.”

Parent involvement

According to the Director, there are some parents who have refused to get help for their children who are giving problems at school.

She said that the Criminal Justice Research and Planning Unit initiated a Dispute Resolution and Conflict Mediation Programme, which was not embraced by those it targeted.

“It is a six-week programme that we put on for juveniles who have been identified by teachers and guidance counsellors as those giving problems in our schools… We would invite them and their parents where we have counsellors, interveners to come in to speak with them.

“Don’t you know that parents have refused the help... There are parents who have refused to get help for their children who are giving problems at school,” Willoughby told The St. Michael School PTA.

“One Saturday, all of my staff attended the programme... Three parents out of 50 turned up. I called those parents to ask why they did not attend, and I heard one story that it was Gold Cup Day... So, that was more important than seeking help for their child.” (TL)