Police supt tells parents: Don’t leave children’s upbringing to schools alone

WESTERN BUREAU:

SUPERINTENDENT OF Police Mercedes Currie, the acting commanding officer for the St James Police Division, is urging parents to take their role as disciplinarians seriously and not expect schools to take charge of their children’s upbringing.

Currie made the call on Sunday while addressing a church service held by the Jamaica Constabulary Force’s [JCF] Community Safety and Security Branch at the Calvary Baptist Church in Montego Bay, St James, under the theme ‘Faithful in action – Building safer schools, stronger communities’.

“There was a time when we had persons in the church who were called ‘Mothers of Zion’. But the Mothers of Zion are now competing with their children for the latest dance moves, and are now sharing the biggest ‘spliffs’ with their sons. The Mothers of Zion are absent from church, and are the ones who have never invited their children to Sunday School or Sabbath School,” said Currie.

“I want to challenge all of us as parents, that we need to rise up to our role and responsibility, not only in the church, but in the homes and in the lives of our children. Let us not leave the role of schooling and discipline to schools only. The role of discipline begins at home, and parents need to rise up, and it is about time that we identify who we are and whose we are, and take our roles seriously,” Currie added.

Parental involvement in children’s education, or lack thereof, has been a recurring concern over several years, most recently arising following an operation by the St Catherine North Police to address loitering by students in Spanish Town. At that time, the Jamaica Association of Principals and Vice-Principals identified inadequate parenting, lack of interest in formal education, and the shift system as contributing factors to loitering and truancy among students.

Currie also advised students to abide by the rules of their respective schools, including in their dress and mannerisms.

“I want to encourage all of us to observe all the rules of the school as we enter into this school year. Do you know who you really are? Are you a girl? Are you a boy? Are you an adult? Are you a child? Are you in charge of your homes, or are you a child in the home?” Currie asked the students attending the service.

“As long as you are a part of a school environment, your dress and deportment matter. Style has no place in school, and there is no fashion where uniform is concerned. The fashion can stay for weekends and holidays,” said Currie. “Also, there are so many misunderstandings and misplaced ideas going around now, where boys and girls are not certain if they are in the right bodies, but the last time I checked, the Registrar General Department of Jamaica only recognises two genders. Therefore, I want to challenge parents to ensure that your children remain in the gender that they were born in.”

Currie’s remarks follow reports from earlier this month about students being locked out of school for various hairstyle and uniform infractions, which has been a constant source of contention for the Ministry of Education. The latest reports include male students of St James High School reportedly being prevented from attending classes for improper haircuts, and St Andrew High School banning the use of ‘edges’ hairstyles.

Meanwhile, Calvary Baptist Church’s host pastor, Reverend Michael Shim-Hue, told Sunday’s service that the church as an institution should help parents to develop integrity in their parenting style, while also advising parents to set good examples for their children.