Shooting yourself in the foot

The position taken by the Ministry of Education to suspend or ban certain activities by schools and other institutions under its jurisdiction, is nothing short of reactionary and premature.

Based on what is being reported, then the actions taken by the authorities should directly affect sporting events. Many of the schools across St Vincent and the Grenadines use the fund-raising activities to pay for uniforms and gear for tournaments, as well as other welfare issues.{{more}}

Will the Ministry of Education now take up the slack and fund the schools’ attire, provide logistical support and the like when the schools are required to participate in the various disciplines? Should it then also stand to reason that at school sporting events, there should be no “loud” music?

Stretching the argument further, then it means the Ministry of Education officials have instantly transformed its showpiece sporting event, the annual inter-secondary schools track and field championships, into a wake.

This is notwithstanding that it is the said Ministry that has extracted the meaning of a school based function from such events by allowing students to attend, not in school attire, but in casual outfits, for a higher entrance fee.

These Ministry personnel should not forget that in recent times, they introduced the cheerleading competition, which is more of a dance-off. This competition was used as an attraction to the venue, as attendance was falling off. In fact, for the past two years, it has taken over the main event, the track and field competition among the various schools.

What accompanies the cheerleading competition, held during the lunch break? Is it not the same loud amplified sound, with suggestive lyrics?

Another case in point was the inter primary schools athletics championships a few years back, which had fill-ins of local soca artistes; is this now a thing of the past, based on instruction of the same Ministry organizers?

Also the inter-primary schools’ championships have dance-offs among the cartoon characters to the strains of amplified music. Will this be banned as well?

Likewise, the secondary schools cricket finals, which took place March 30 this year at the Park Hill Playing Field. The Ministry of Education, under which the competition is administered, encouraged an “atmosphere”, with the presence of a disc jockey and other “attractive activities”.

Sporting activities across the globe have gone past the mere competition, and over time, have embraced other side shows.

It is agreed and well established that there are social repercussions which follow some sporting events, once the proper structures are not in place. However, this does not mean that one unsavoury incident should be corrected by some ill-advised and draconian responses.

Therefore, the Ministry of Education, whose officials have given permission to the Bethel High School to have their “night sports”, as it is labelled, should take a page from that school’s management. For the past two years, that school has staged its athletics championships from afternoon into the evening, under the lights at the Victoria Park. With the necessary measures put in place and executed, the two occasions went without incident.

This is not to say that in the future something cannot go wrong, but forward planning was the watchword in the two hostings of the championships. The Ministry’s actions show that they are not willing to be reflective and explore alternatives to problem solving.

Ironically, these same persons often chide the young people and describe them as rash, impetuous and lacking critical thinking skills.

This column, on many occasions, has called on government authorities to establish protocols for school events, namely school sports.

Hence, the recent pronouncements and expected decisions should not come as a surprise, as we are firmly living the notion that correction is better than prevention.