'Stop living in the past, we don't care about what happened in your day, this is now live in the present' With thoughts like that , i would implore 'Tantric', to think about the future.

Be Real
I get the feeling that you think teachers are responsible for the behaviour of children in schools. QUOTE The teachers are treating the children like criminals so eventuall if people keep shouting at you and putting you down, making you feel like you are worth nothing, what do you expect. UNQUOTE. You couldn’t be further from the truth. I happen to be close affiliated with some teachers of some schools and the general consensus is that teachers do try, they have to be mother, father, role model, and a whole lot of other portfolio’s. In fact it is the child that comes into the schools as a CRIMINAL. It is difficult for a teacher to try to impart knowledge onto disrespectful and stubborn children. You seem to forget the molding stages of a child’s life is at the infantry age, and that is where they learn their behavioural pattern. So maybe is the parents that are treating them like criminals and hence that is why they feel they are “worth nothing”. I am not saying that teachers do not play an important role is the children’s life, but their parents are the pivotal ones. I asked my teacher friends about the roles that parents take in their child education, the response was that when there is a “parent’s day” they only see the parents of the good students. The “delinquent” set their parents never come at any point, and do not seek any interest in their child. So what does that tell you? As you said they lack the love and attention, but again parents need to foster these relationships with their children. This must not be left solely on the teacher to nurture, raise and educate your child. Be real.

Rum, Berlin
Dicksonrp my friend, boil dong. It has not been a PMNite, but Kamla -fishing for votes in her election-campaigne- who abolished corporal punishment ("No more licks in school"). Jus´so - without having a plan.
Do you remember when the "PNMnite" Chalkdust warned her:"Open the jail Kamla - in ten years".
So, doh hate so much bwoy - dat make people look ugly like quenk :-)

Whee I was growing up I was kept in line by the rule of the whip or strap. Ever since the ban on the whip and strap. THIS IS NOT THE ANSWER, THE VIOLENCE THAT OUR PARENTS PRACTICED AGAINST THOSE THAT CANNOT DEFEND THEMSELVES ONLY PRODUCED MORE CRIMINALS.because some of us passed it on, it has to stop somewhere. why hit and beat someone that is defenseless. you will never do it to someone who could defend themselves. so the children are fighting back and over doing it. things have shifted everywhere. but what we put out there comes back to us. if we put out violence,,,,,,,,,,,,,figure out the rest, when we put out love...........plants grow stronger, the moon shine brighter, trees grow stronger and it is all because of the power of love

A school is an institution where students learn under the supervision of teachers. As a product of both the Trinidadian and U.S. education system, I once took pride in the emphasis on discipline Trinidadian schools upheld. This article is shameful and sadly, represents a growing trend of instability and lack of control in our Ministry of Education.

For an official to justify the behaviour of these unruly children by saying, “The school rules are too rigid. Students have to be on time, they taking their shoes, cutting their pants, pressuring the children for too much nonsense. The communities are disadvantaged and teachers chasing you and running you.” First of all, being from a disadvantaged community is no excuse for students to fight at school, to bring weapons to school, and worst of all, to slap a teacher. You go to school with the intent of learning, if your intention is anything other than that, you need not be there. If students have behavioural issues, then they need to go to a specialized school, where their needs can be met.

I do not believe that students should have an unlimited supply of “get out of school for a week cards” with constant suspension. After 3 suspensions, students should be expelled from school. Schools need to set up policies to ensure that the integrity of their institution is upheld and the best way to do that is to weed out the bad seeds. The safety of the staff and students should be a primary issue. At the rate we are going, It is only a matter of time before we have our own Columbine High School Massacre and Virginia Tech shooting. Certain measures have to be made to prevent our education system from getting to this point, and if it means for schools to “rigid rules,” then SO BE IT! The Ministry of Education needs to wake up and formulate a national school and safety initiative to appropriately prevent and manage school violence, reduce safety risks – such as expelling students and sending them to some sort boot camp/specialized school – and improve school and community relations. Because this crap makes no sense!

Janeen Ettienne

A school is an institution where students learn under the supervision of teachers. As a product of both the Trinidadian and U.S. education system, I once took pride in the emphasis on discipline Trinidadian schools upheld. This article is shameful and sadly, represents a growing trend of instability and lack of control in our Ministry of Education.

For an official to justify the behaviour of these unruly children by saying, “The school rules are too rigid. Students have to be on time, they taking their shoes, cutting their pants, pressuring the children for too much nonsense. The communities are disadvantaged and teachers chasing you and running you.” First of all, being from a disadvantaged community is no excuse for students to fight at school, to bring weapons to school, and worst of all, to slap a teacher. You go to school with the intent of learning, if your intention is anything other than that, you need not be there. If students have behavioural issues, then they need to go to a specialized school, where their needs can be met.

I do not believe that students should have an unlimited supply of “get out of school for a week cards” with constant suspension. After 3 suspensions, students should be expelled from school. Schools need to set up policies to ensure that the integrity of their institution is upheld and the best way to do that is to weed out the bad seeds. The safety of the staff and students should be a primary issue. At the rate we are going, It is only a matter of time before we have our own Columbine High School Massacre and Virginia Tech shooting. Certain measures have to be made to prevent our education system from getting to this point, and if it means for schools to “rigid rules,” then SO BE IT! The Ministry of Education needs to wake up and formulate a national school and safety initiative to appropriately prevent and manage school violence, reduce safety risks – such as expelling students and sending them to some sort boot camp/specialized school – and improve school and community relations. Because this crap makes no sense!

Janeen Ettienne

I always maintain, when we removed corporal punishment from schools, students now have nothing to fear, they have no respect for authority, and the dotish parents does condone and encourage this nonsense.
Parents nowadays are a failure for they fail to impart moral and spiritual values to their young ones. They don't bring up their children with the discipline and respect they should exhibit, yet they dump them off to school and expect the teachers to bring them up. Once a child not nagging you, the parent is happy, so we allow them from an early age to do what they want to keep them quiet. When we take away this freedom and try to instill discipline and respect, they retaliate, and is war. When the teacher corrects them, is the parent want to fight you. I tell you, what is the sense and reward in all this.

Parents need to get actively involved in their children’s day to day lives. It is your responsibility. As James said, if I come home and report my teacher beat me, I getting licks first, then mummy asking what I get licks for in school. Imagine I telling she I get suspended…..lord put ah hand.

Parents really need to get their act together or else we would continue to see acts like this and an eventual breakdown in the next generation. Children need the love and attention from their parents, and I think that this is the major downfall of parenting. Children then turn to others for attention and when they don’t get it, they retaliate, or they run away with somebody whom they believe is showing them the attention.

I think the government should re-think their position on corporal punishment. Most successful people I know will tell you they got licks in school, and is because of the licks that have them where they are today. Many people meet past teachers now and thank them for the spanking that they got back then, because it helped them into being the person they are today.

“In another incident a Form Two student slapped a teacher and then brought her mother at the school. The mother wanted to beat the teacher,”