Crawford calls for more targeted approach to school violence
Published:Tuesday | November 15, 2022 | 12:12 AMEdmond Campbell/Senior Staff Reporter
Opposition Spokesman on Education Senator Damion Crawford has urged the Government to urgently implement a raft of new initiatives suggested by the People’s National Party (PNP) to tackle violence and indiscipline in public schools.
In a press conference at the Office of the Leader of the Opposition on Monday, Crawford said that the Government should link the Programme of Advancement Through Health and Education (PATH) to parental involvement, including participation in parent-teacher association (PTA) activities.
“Continuation of access to PATH should, therefore, be on a term report basis, where schools indicate that parents have shown interest and have come to school whenever they are requested.”
He called for schools to be equipped with closed-circuit cameras and for a ‘school eye’ that is synonymous with the Government’s JamaicaEye programme to monitor compounds and deter possible acts of violence.
Crawford said that some of the Ministry of Education’s proposals to tackle the problem were inadequate and indicate a lack of creativity and energy in the ministry and a general misunderstanding of the circumstances surrounding the upsurge in criminal activities.
Searching students at school gates with handheld metal detectors as suggested by the education minister was inefficient, Crawford argued.
“Simple mathematics of 1,000 students in school and an average of 30 seconds to do an effective search, you would recognise that you need 500 minutes or approximately eight hours for all students to be searched. That’s the entire period that the school [day] supposed to last for,” he said.
Crawford recommends that in all public primary and secondary schools, the Government commission a department of socialisation, headed by a guidance counsellor and staffed by guidance counsellors, deans of discipline and form teachers.
“Formulating this department will immediately place over 40 adults under one umbrella to be trained, coordinated, organised and deployed for the purpose of interaction, monitoring, problem-solving and consistent adult supervision inside and outside of classes,” the opposition spokesman said.
He is also recommending that form teachers be better paid, trained and positioned as senior teachers, with an additional remuneration of no less than $20,000 per month.
“In addition, there should be perks given to form teachers as the socialisation concept is a necessary part of the improving of our students’ experiences,” said Crawford, a former high-school teacher and university lecturer.
He said that form teachers should be trained in behaviour modification and to spot depression, gangs, drug addiction, and bullying and also to participate in adequate interventions when necessary.
MORE DEANS NEEDED
He also suggested that more deans of discipline be hired immediately to achieve a ratio of one to 600 students or deans of discipline for lower and upper schools at both the primary and secondary levels.
“Consider staggered lunch and dismissal times to increase the adult-to-student ratios during lunch and dismissal, which are the highest risk periods,” he further proposed.
The opposition spokesman on education also recommended that the schools revisit their detention policies, especially for students with violent conduct, to detain such students for term-long participation in what he calls ‘peace education’, and not just for short-term punishment.
“The student may also be detained for recommended participation in uniform corps such as scouts, cadets or girl guides,” he added.
Crawford is also pushing for good behaviour to be rewarded, suggesting that form teachers could distribute tickets for well-behaving students to attend a monthly after-school party, for example.
“Additionally, we call upon the private sector to engage the Government so that they can encourage with the assistance of gift vouchers such as fast-food vouchers, telephone cards, cafeteria vouchers, and vouchers for stores and other activities that reward the good-behaving student.”