Crawford gives proposal to address student consumption of harmful content

By Nakinskie Robinson/Clinton McGregor    

 

Opposition Spokesman on Education Damion Crawford has put forward a proposal which he says could address the unwanted consumption of harmful content by school children.

 

The proposal comes as he called for Minister Fayval Williams to similarly outline a plan that limits the purported connection between misbehaviour and lewd music. 

 

Minister Williams has defended her position after she suggested during the sectoral debate in the House of Representatives on Wednesday that lewd music could be contributing to an increase in school violence.

 

Mr. Crawford has thrown cold water on that view, questioning whether there is enough evidence to support a strong correlation between music and violent actions.

 

He argued that academic research has identified several underlying push factors, which exclude music.

 

Despite Mr. Crawford's view on the matter, he believes the government must still swiftly address unwanted exposure to harmful content.

 

The opposition spokesman is suggesting that the ministry considers the opposition's proposals to control undesired exposure. 

 

In his proposal, Mr. Crawford suggested an event rating system - such as the method used to rate movies - and event zoning. 

 

"So events in the midst of a highly populated area such as New Kingston may not be able to pass PG-16 and could not be an R-rated event because of unauthorised exposure to persons who are not participating and children who are not participating," he explained. 

 

He has also recommended a social marketing campaign called 'Just Art', where the ministry would engage artistes to push the message to young people that music is "just art". This message from influencial artistes, he believes, "should be able to mitigate against that minimal amount of students that [the minister] believes are going to be prompt into violence".

 

 

In the meantime, Police Commissioner Dr. Kevin Blake said the High Command has been implementing measures to target and dismantle gangs which have been recruiting students.

 

Dr. Blake told Radio Jamaica News that the measures are aimed at stemming violence in schools.

 

"We have several interventions. We have been on the streets. Last week, I was in Grange Hill. We have made some commitments. We are delivering on those commitments. We have a plan that spans from public awareness, public education, and also integration of the police in the school, enhancing our school resource officers and school safety programme. 

 

"In addition to that, our commitment in ridding the community of those threat factors, those persons who seek to recruit young children into gangs, we have to remove those threat forces. And that is part of our strategy and our effort," said Dr. Blake.