Basil Jarrett | Our kids are irate

Next July, my childhood idol Iron ‘Mike’ Tyson comes out of retirement for a second time, this time to beat some guy named Jake Paul. This is Mike’s second fight since he and Roy Jones embarrassed themselves in 2020. But given how desperate we were for entertainment during COVID-19, we lapped up the whole eight rounds with relish.

Outside of the ring, Mike is a lumbering, lovable, philosophical 57-year-old. Inside it, he’s a ballerina, with frighteningly quick head movement and foot speed that still defies belief at nearly 60. If Mike hits Jake Paul flush in the face on July 20, the youngster will immediately know that he’s up against the one-time “baddest man on the planet”.

But not all of Mike’s fights have been a beautiful juxtaposition of grace and power. Some have been scrappy, straight-up brawls with ringside security and non-fighters.

SCHOOL VIOLENCE ON THE RISE

As pulsating as some of those brawls were, perhaps none were as violent as last week’s full-scale high school war in Half-Way Tree. To be honest, violence in our schools is nothing new. I myself had a few scraps in my day, winning some and probably losing most. But over the years, high school violence seems to have become an even more common occurrence, with social media showcasing the alarming extent of the problem. From clashes between rival schools to fatal attraction altercations between students, the headlines paint a grim picture of the state of our youngsters.

Last week, a rumoured dispute over a romantic rivalry involving two male students and a female continued into this week, as sticks, stones, bicycles and anything that makes a thud entered the fray. The situation reached boiling point with fights breaking out all over the place, prompting early school closures and police intervention.

Then there was the unrelated stabbing death of 15-year-old Irwin High student Raniel Plummer, by his 14-year-old schoolmate, another tragic demonstration of the devastating consequences of violence among youngsters.

REAL ROOT OF THE PROBLEM

Notwithstanding the varied circumstances surrounding these incidents, some common themes emerge, which may help to shed light on the underlying causes of violence. Even though issues such as romantic rivalries, interpersonal conflicts and school rivalries played a role in the events of last week, it is essential to recognise that no single factor can be blamed for last week, or the prevalence of violence in our schools in general.

Instead, a combination of social, cultural, and systemic issues must be addressed if we are to create a safer learning environment.

To my mind, the first culprit is the dysfunctional families to which these kids belong. Domestic violence, substance abuse, neglect, and parental absence, all contribute to a lack of stability and support for children. Growing up in such environments can only increase the likelihood of aggressive behaviour and conflict resolution through violent means. Monkey see, monkey do, right?

Then there is the high level of community violence and indiscipline which many of our kids experience daily. This includes gang activity in at-risk neighbourhoods, as well as the effects of drug trafficking and lottery scamming which can desensitise children to violence and normalise aggressive behaviours as a means of survival or protection.

VIOLENCE BEGETS VIOLENCE

Peer pressure and peer influence are other key influencers shaping the behaviours of children and adolescents. As my grandmother used to say, “Show me your friends and I’ll show you who you are”. Adolescents are impressionable and eager to fit in, and so, in environments where violence is glorified or rewarded, peer pressure can exacerbate aggressive tendencies, leading to participation in violent acts as a means of fitting in or gaining social status. I mean, how else does a love triangle involving three people, suddenly become a 70-man-strong smackdown?

Then there’s our unique Jamaican culture, norms and values surrounding masculinity, power, and conflict resolution heavily influencing children’s attitudes and behaviours toward violence. Here, aggression is seen as a sign of strength and power and so children merely internalise these beliefs and emulate aggressive behaviours in their interactions. Man a bad man indeed.

And speaking of culture, let’s not let our media off the hook. I don’t want to get into a chicken and egg debate around the media’s influence on violence, but without a doubt, exposure to violent media content, including movies, video games, and online sites, also helps to desensitise children to violence and shape their attitudes towards aggression. My friends in academia and research have suggested that prolonged exposure to violent media can increase aggressive thoughts, feelings, and behaviours in children. I don’t dare disagree.

WHERE ARE THE ADULTS?

The absence of positive role models, mentors, or adult figures who can model positive behaviours and conflict resolution skills is also to be blamed as children are often left without guidance or support in navigating interpersonal conflicts in a non-violent way. Then there is the easy access to weapons, such as firearms, knives, or improvised weapons, which can escalate conflicts and increase the likelihood of resorting to violence. Although the presence of weapons in schools and communities poses a significant risk to the safety and well-being of children, let us not ignore the fact that in a pinch, someone’s parked bicycle can become a deadly weapon of choice, if placed in the wrong hands.

I also want to address the institutional failures within our social systems, including schools, juvenile justice systems and social services, which can exacerbate risk factors for violence among children. Inadequate support, intervention, funding and rehabilitation services may fail to address underlying issues and prevent violent behaviours from escalating.

There is also the cycle of violence through trauma and adverse childhood experiences such as abuse, neglect, or witnessing crime and violence, all of which can have long-lasting effects on children’s mental health and behaviour. Hurt people hurt people and so, untreated trauma can contribute to emotional dysregulation, aggression, and difficulty forming healthy relationships.

POVERTY AS A FACTOR

Finally, we cannot discount the fact that socioeconomic disparities and structural inequalities such as poverty, class discrimination and lack of access to resources, can create environments where violence thrives. Children from marginalised communities face additional stressors and barriers to success, increasing their vulnerability to violence. When you have to fight for everything in your life, of course you will fight for everything in your life.

The point is that violence in schools and among our youngsters is the result of the sum total of all of these factors, and not just any one. Certainly, in some circumstances, one factor may be more dominant than another, but any serious effort to mitigate and prevent reoccurrences of what happened last week will only succeed if all or most of these issues are addressed.

Tacking these underlying determinants requires long-term commitment, sustained investment, and collaboration across multiple sectors to effect meaningful change. It necessitates a shift from reactive, crisis-oriented approaches to proactive, prevention-focused strategies that prioritise the well-being and safety of children and communities.

Anything less, and we’re just kicking the can down the road.

Major Basil Jarrett is a communications strategist and CEO of Artemis Consulting. Follow him on X, formerly Twitter, Instagram, Threads @IamBasilJarrett and linkedin.com/in/basiljarrett. Send feedback to columns@gleanerjm.com.