Students scolded by official at Schools’ Independence Rally

Students gathered at the schools’ Independence Rally last Thursday received a scolding from an official of the Ministry of Education.{{more}}

Permanent Secretary Nicole Bonadie-Baker seems to have lost her cool, and when it was her turn to address the gathering, she launched into a two-minute rant about the apparent lack of patriotism demonstrated by some groups of students on hand to witness the event.

She expressed her disgust at the behaviour of the students during the playing of the national anthem and, according to her, the disrespect shown by others who insisted on speaking while some of the persons who preceded her made their presentations.

“You are not working together to enhance national pride,” the PS said.

She then pleaded with the students to show some respect while others were speaking and to be more patriotic, especially during the playing of the national anthem.

“Children and young people, you are becoming a lost generation.”

Bonadie-Baker explained that the theme of this year’s independence celebrations included the words “working together to enhance national pride”.

However, she said that the students did not come off as examples of inviduals who understood what it was to be proud of their nation.

She singled out some students of the St Joseph’s Convent Kingstown and some Girl Guides whom she accused of walking in while the anthem was being played, saying that they represented institutions that were known for moulding and training young people to have respect and discipline.

“My remarks are simply to say, go home and try to understand what it means to be proud of your country, because when you go to other countries, they are not proud of you; they don’t know you, they don’t know anything about you and if you cannot be proud of St Vincent and the Grenadines, nobody else in this world is going to recognize you for anything that you achieve,” Bonadie-Baker said.

During the 2012 edition of the schools’ independence rally, chief education officer Louanne Gilchrist made similar comments about the ill-discipline on the part of some students present. (DD)