Thomas Phinemann, Contributor

Many educational institutions are being plagued by indiscipline and violence. There was a time when the sight of a male teacher was enough to instil discipline and bring recalcitrant students in line. This is no longer the case. A male teacher has as much to fear as his female colleagues. Reports have emerged in the press of male teachers being attacked by wayward students or intruders who enter the school compound to settle a score or demonstrate their lack of respect for the education sector.

Brothers, we can take back the nation's schools and make them safe for our children once more. Barack Obama, president-elect of the United States, and his campaign team have demonstrated that when we say we can, we CAN translate that into actual results. The obstacles we face are there to prove our strength. We need to partner with both male and female principals and devise new strategies for keeping our schools safe.

What can we do?

There are so many groups engaged in all kinds of projects with the hope of making a difference. Too many things are done in an ad hoc manner. We are great at starting all kinds of initiatives but lack that finishing strength and strategy. Obviously, there is something that is not happening in our schools. As an agent of socialisation, schools are now more part of the problem, instead of the solution.

Against this background, we have a challenging task to take back our schools and save our children from the perils of the unprincipled. But we can. What can we do? What has worked from time immemorial is showing respect for all and rewarding good and punishing evil.

Examples

When we focus on the rights of our children and ignore the responsibilities of adults to nurture and keep them safe and warm, we do our children harm. Our first responsibility as men is to be the examples we want our sons to be. It is wise to take on this responsibility as the simple fact of life is that one generation replaces another. The elderly will be at the mercy of the children that we have raised collectively. Therefore, it is enlightened self-interest to pay close attention to what is happening in our schools. We are responsible for the future that we create.

What can we do differently? We can begin by accepting that we can make a difference. We are powerful. Together we are strong and invincible. We gather in our churches, service clubs, gambling dens, and other all male groups, but it is time for us to form a new organisation, Men for Safe Schools, in every school community. We need to take turns visiting schools, with as little intrusion as possible. Devotions are a good time to let our children see that we care. At the end of school, we need to see to it that all our children are off the streets and safely at home. The police alone can't do it. It is time for us to take charge of our schoolchildren.

Have suggestions on how men can influence school policy and student behaviour? Email comments to saturdaylife@gleanerjm.com.