NPTAJ says 'Dunce' bags should not be allowed in schools

 

The National Parent-Teacher Association of Jamaica (NPTAJ) has said the "Dunce" branded backpacks should not be allowed in schools.

 

NPTAJ President Stewart Jacobs, who was a guest Monday on the Morning Agenda on Power 106, said parents need to learn what is right and wrong for their children. 

 

"We will need to have a re-evaluation of our society. We're accepting too much, or we're being too tolerant with certain things, because, you know why? We have too much voices; we have too much voices opposing," he griped. 

 

"We have this yah group, dat deh group, all kind of group opposing. And it's always about 'oh, the right and the right'. We must think of the rights, of the value that has brought us this far for how much years. In the last couple of years - 15 years or so, 20 years - our society has degraded into what it is now, where, a parent would even think of sending the child to school with a bag like that," Mr. Jacobs continued. 

 

He was speaking against the background of discussions amid the stance taken by principal of Jonathan Grant High School, Dr. O'Neil Ankle, to prevent students wearing the "Dunce" backpacks from entering classrooms.

 

However, Jamaicans for Justice is concerned that the immediate banning of the backpacks could result in children being denied their right to education.

 

JFJ's Executive Director of Mickel Jackson, who was also a guest Monday on the Morning Agenda, explained that the bags would have to be replaced and this will come at an economic cost to parents.

 

She said parents who are unable to afford a new bag may choose to keep their child at home.

 

Ms Jackson argued that while there is a need to maintain certain socio-cultural norms and values in society, the immediate response cannot be to bar students from school compounds.

 

She called for there to be life skills and empowerment sessions at schools to help students and parents. 

 

These sessions, she said, would perhaps empower students to decide that a bag such as the one in question is not one they would want to represent them.

 

"A parent, for example, would be so empowered, wherein the thought would have never crossed their mind that this is a bag for my child to be wearing to school," Ms Jackson added. 

 

The Ministry of Education on Monday cautioned school administrators and teachers against using denial of access to education as punishment.

 

It has recommended alternatives, including engaging students in conversation about the appropriateness of their behaviours, choices and consequences; convening of motivational sessions with children and empowerment sessions with parents; and giving reasonable time for corrective action or for the desirable behaviours to be demonstrated.