St Mary educators, cops talks strategies to fight bullying in schools

More than 30 educators from across St Mary joined forces with the local police last week to address new strategies and guidelines for issues such as human trafficking, bullying, and gun control in schools.

During the Safe School Stakeholders' Seminar, which took place in the conference room at the Casa Maria Hotel in Port Maria, primary and secondary school teachers shared tips on how to eradicate anti-social behaviour and develop more child-friendly learning environments.

The event also presented an opportunity for discussion on the prevalence of illegal drugs in and around schools, and whether security personal should remain armed when they are working with children.

Guest speaker and school safety director at the Ministry of Education, Sergeant Coleridge Minto, said that if the proposed safe school policy is implemented, corporal punishment and all forms of verbal, physical and emotional violence will be banned in schools.

He told The Gleaner: "Today we're doing a public consultation on the safety policy document, which is hopefully going back to Cabinet for approval, and so I highlighted some of the proposals to get feedback from this forum's participants.

"Human trafficking is one of the things we spoke about that is very topical. The Ministry of Education, for the first time, has developed a curriculum with the Ministry of Justice, which we introduced into our schools, at the grade-nine level, last September.

"We're also doing [human trafficking] training, workshops, and public education with a number of schools across the island, and the Ministry of Education has assisted victims with reintegration because it is part of our responsibility to put them back into the formal education system without their image being marred in any way."

Principal at St Mary Technical High School Glascine McCormack-Lazarus hailed the event as a success.

She said: "Today was well attended and addressed issues that are relevant to safety and security in schools."

She added: "From my perspective, the biggest issue is getting parents involved and partnering. The parental fabric has broken down, so we want to get that back. Most of the students' misbehaviour comes from home, and if we can arrest the situation there, I think we have a better chance of arresting the conflicts and inappropriate behaviour that takes place in the schools."

Principal of Highgate Primary and Junior High School Adassa Henry added: "The seminar was productive in the sense that it dealt with most of the things we are experiencing in schools.

"One of the main things that really interested me was the implementation of police youth clubs in schools because I think they can bring our young people into groups that can help mould their lives and make them better people and assets to our community and country."