THE EDITOR, Madam:
I AM deeply disturbed by the level of indiscipline that pervades our society and am even more troubled when such acts of indiscipline or unlawful behaviour are more or less endorsed by the law-abiding citizens.
The recent stone-throwing incident involving students of the Denham Town Primary School, for the second time in four years, which saw the students damaging the station facility and police vehicles, is a perfect example of this societal problem. Despite such unlawful acts by these students, at least in the eyes of the police authority, will seemingly go unpunished.
Even though the school has vowed to see that the responsible students will not go unpunished, I am not so sure that the matter should be left solely in the hands of the school. If the school had delivered the proper punishment four years ago, I do not believe that these students now, being fully aware of the consequences of their action, would resort to attacking the police station again.
Whether or not these students were instigated by adults to carry out such an action is immaterial, as far as I am concerned, for if these students had the proper moral upbringing they would have known that to do what they had done is wrong and they would therefore not heed to such instigation.
For the police to let these students go unpunished, if it is even to subject them to community service, is only sending a wrong message to these and other students. These students had the necessary intent to engage in such criminal-like behaviour so they should not be exonerated.
I am etc.,
KEVIN K.O. SANGSTER
E-mail:
ksangste@astro.temple.edu
Elkins Park, PA, U.S.A.
Via Go-Jamaica
