Glenda Simms
IN THE December 12, 2003 edition of the The Gleaner, contributor Dennie Quill described in detail the behaviours which exemplified the annual carol service of the Jamaica Defence Force.
These behaviours include the purposeful movement of young men who were assigned to dry the raindrops from the chairs; the calmness of the audience; the respect for the instructions regarding individuals conduct during the service.
On observing this pattern at Up Park Camp, Mr. Quill came to the conclusion that we Jamaicans "can follow instructions and we can leave our crass and coarse behaviours and we can escape being routinely depicted as uncouth people".
Mr. Quill's article is a reminder that the "norm" has become the "abnormal" in our society. In other words, the behaviours observed at the carol service at Up Park Camp should be the norm in any society. Human beings should be socialised to have respect for self, others, the environment and all of our institutions.
Mr. Quill reminds us that "traditional politeness and good behaviour" were "consonant with our country not so long ago." He also challenged us to realise that "we are a disjointed society" and we need to find a way to ensure that we can pull ourselves away from our bad behaviours in order "to build better lives so that our children will inherit a great land."
The vision of the "great land" will be achieved when we put more emphasis on the formal educational system and on the families in which our children are being socialised. Children need the kind of upbringing and education that will guarantee good behaviour and respectful conduct throughout their life cycle.
To this end, there are several creative and innovative strategies that are being pursued in many jurisdictions, because throughout the Western world, there is a detectable erosion of good behaviours both in the public and private spheres.
INITIATIVE
One local initiative was carried in the December 9 edition of the The Gleaner, in which Staff Reporter Trudy Simpson detailed the planks of the tripartite pact that will guide the behaviours and expectations of students, teachers and parents of the Kingston Technical High School. Upon reading the guidelines of this plan which were described by Ms. Simpson, it became clear to this writer that teachers and parents are being guided to do what they should have been doing by virtue of their training and their level of responsibility.
For instance, we are told that teachers are being asked in this initiative to "set examples for students, to provide improved learning opportunities to allow students to give feedback on teachers' performance and foster harmonious relationships with the students."
It is frightening to think that persons who are supposed to be trained professionals, worthy of teaching in any classroom in this nation, should be told that these are the desirable behaviours and expectations of their jobs.
On the other hand, since most people who give birth to children have not received any formal training in parenting, it is understandable that the requisite parent behaviours should be articulated and reinforced in any pact between home and school.
Also, the students need to be given clear guidelines regarding acceptable behaviours and levels of importance in the classrooms of the nation.
There are many recent reports of students involved in serious violent crimes such as sexual assault against teachers and other students, the smoking of ganja and the carrying of weapons. These incidents are sufficiently frightening to force all school boards and related authorities to take a "zero tolerance" approach to the growing symptoms of lawlessness and bad behaviours in our schools.
The time has come for the authorities to hold students, parents, teachers and principals accountable for the breakdown of decency and civility in the classrooms. In this thrust, Jamaica would not be unique and it might serve us well to learn from initiatives that are being implemented in other jurisdictions.
A case in point is one which focuses on students in the province of Ontario. In the July 22, 2003 edition of the Ottawa Citizen, writer Elaine O'Connor described ways in which provincial laws are setting a code of conduct to ensure that schools are helping children to feel safer.
According to O'Connor's report, the province of Ontario has a Safe School Act which delineates a code of conduct for students. This code is clear and the sanctions for undesirable conduct are also strong and clear. The code "demands respect and civility in schools and mandatory expulsion of students who carry weapons or commit assault on any member of the school community".
MANDATORY EXPULSION
Under the act "students face mandatory expulsion for possessing weapons, physical assault causing injury, sexual assault, trafficking in drugs or weapons, committing a robbery or giving alcohol to a minor".
In the same vein, students face mandatory suspension for uttering threats, drug and alcohol possession, vandalising school property and swearing at school staff. Minor offences which can lead to discretionary expulsion include behaviours that prevent other students from gaining the most out of their classroom experience.
Another innovative approach to parent involvement in the schools is one which is typified by the Philadelphia School District which has developed a Home Support Checklist which is included in the student report cards of all elementary school children.
Sarah Schmidt of Canwest News Service reports in the November 1, 2003 edition of the Edmonton Journal that this checklist rated parents on "whether they responded to phone calls and notes from the school and whether their child appears well rested, completes homework assignments and appears to have proper medical checks such as eye exams and hearing tests".
While these efforts might be culture and class specific, they are in line with the Kingston Technical High School initiative. They are all aimed at getting parents to be true partners in their children's education. This is very important if we are to reach the point where teachers, parents and students recognise their responsibility to make the educational system one of the most important element in the development of the Jamaican society.
When we put the emphasis back on the basics of respect, responsibility, orderliness, honesty and other positive elements of the most civilised of human societies, then an event such as the orderly and well-executed carol service of the Jamaica Defence Force will no longer be "the exception", but will be "the rule".
Dr. Glenda P. Simms is the executive director of the Bureau of Women's Affairs.
