Violence in schools a major problem

Concerned that guns and knives have now replaced fist fights in school, First Vice President of the St. Vincent and the Grenadines Teachers’ Union (SVGTU), Joy Mathews said that violence in schools is one of the major problems affecting the education system in this country.{{more}}

Speaking at a press conference called by the union on Tuesday, Mathews pointed out that the fights are impacting the teacher/learning situation in schools and she is of the opinion that negative cultural penetration, drugs, lack of parental discipline and a break down in morals are the reasons why more children are acting out in schools.

The First Vice President said that rather than treating the causes of violent behaviour in students, the education system is treating the symptoms and she believes that the disciplinary methods used in schools are antiquated.

She said that there is a need to come up with innovative ways to prevent acts of violence or the entire nation would suffer. Matthews also called on the media to be more responsible in what they put out on the airwaves and urged mini bus drivers to censor the music they play while they transport students to and from school.

Also calling on teachers to be just as disciplined was Public Relations Officer, Oswald Robinson. The executive member said that according to the code of conduct of the Public Service Union (PSU), teachers should be role models for their students.

Robinson said that some teachers were not true professionals and were showing up extremely late to their classes while requesting salary increases and other benefits.

The PRO said that when teachers are late, they were telling their students that it was alright to go to work late and appealed to them to make a conscientious effort to be early for their classes.

Robinson also expressed his disappointment with some teachers for failing to deliver their weekly lesson plans.

The press conference was held at the union’s headquaters at McKies Hill. (SG)