Parents need to be active in raising their children

ONE retired and former principal wants parents to play a more active role in raising their children.

Former Principal of the Frederick Smith Secondary School, Jefferson Phillips, made this remark after his retirement function at the school recently. Phillips was responding to a question about increasing violence occurring within the school and made this suggestion. He further added that the family in Barbados has deteriorated a bit and parents need to be more responsible and accept their roles as role models to their children.

“...And be there for them. Don’t wait until they get to an age, teenager to do anything. They need to create that environment in the home, give more love to them, take care of them, try to provide for them. (Parents) may not have everything that the child needs, but they can instil morals and values in their children and not leave it up to the schools,” said Phillips.

In his 38 years in education, the creator of the St. James Secondary School/Frederick Smith Secondary School pledge said that one of his most memorable moments was seeing students who were going down the wrong path eventually turning themselves around.

“I have had a few students who were going in a direction, which was mainly a direction for destruction. And in monitoring and talking to them, some of them changed their path and I am very, very pleased about that,” said Phillips.

Jefferson Phillips came to the St. James Secondary School from its inception in 1979. The teacher had a number of roles at the West Coast institution, moving through the Language Department, IT room and then into the Deputy Principal and Principal Offices in 2008 and 2011 respectively. He told The Barbados Advocate that his plans for retirement include travelling more as well as continuing his work with his church where he is a minister.