The Editor, Sir:

My commendations on a succint and accurate editorial analysis of the situation at Kingston Technical High School. Unfortunately, the reaction of the administration is archetypical and not the exception.

It appears that in a campaign to maintain reputations, violence in a number of Corporate Area high schools goes unchecked in particular traditional high schools. The implementation of the school resource officer has in a very real sense been effective in bringing some of these problems to the attention of the courts. However, there are still too many principals who are openly resistant or frustrate the work of the SRO.

One would be amazed at many infractions of the law that went unreported in these schools prior to the advent of the SRO. Even now, attempts are still made to shield young offenders lest the offence tarnish the name of the school. Recently, the student council president of a prominent school in the vicinity of Heroes Circle shared with me that two second formers stabbed each other several times, came before the board and were expelled. No report was ever made to the police. This particular school does not have a SRO.

Having worked closely with a number of SROs in the Corporate Area, I single out ones assigned at Kingston College, Calabar, St. George's College, Vauxhall, Dunoon Technical and Donald Quarrie as ones who have fostered a good working relationship with the school administration and who are given the full cooperation of the school in most cases.

The danger in the conspiracy of silence is that the problem festers, is never resolved and principals do a disservice to their job and the nation when they chose to muzzle instead of address the criminality.

I am, etc.,

RODRICK R. R. REID