By L.K. Hewlett
St. Kitts Reporter
Concerns regarding the attire and conduct of high school students have reached an all time high across the Federation. Citizens have been inquiring as to whether or not the students are now running the schools.
Some of the issues reaching this newspaper address dress code, punctuality, code of conduct and respect. The Observer spoke to a staff member of one of the nation’s high schools who attempted to explain the seeming downslide of the youth.
“People are asking why we allow girls to come to school with braids, weaves and nail extensions. It’s not that teachers don’t see them, or that teachers don’t care why those girls are not sent home. There was a case last year I think when a school in Sandy Point sent a boy home because his hair was too long and the mother decided she was not cutting his hair and took the matter to court.
“The court took her side and she won. I don’t see how you can win a case like that when you send your child to a public school that has rules and regulations, it wasn’t a new rule, that’s how it has always been, that boys have their hair well groomed. Ever since that case a lot of teachers don’t say anything to the students about their hairdos or their uniforms,” the woman said.
She explained that when a child was promoted to a public high school, the parents received a copy of the school rules and regulations along with the uniform code. She said that times had changed and educators felt they could no longer discipline students for fear of lawsuits or abusive parents.
According to the Ministry of Educations School Rules and Regulations Policy, ‘Uniform skirts must be worn at least two (2) inches below the knee, trousers must be worn around the waist securely with a belt and shoes and socks should be the prescribed colour of the school. It goes on to say that wearing of earrings, jewellery and nail polish are forbidden and hair accessories for girls should not be excessive’.
Two particular rules stand out as being those most frequently and obviously ignored; only natural plaiting of their own hair will be allowed for girls and no hair colouring is permitted.
Young girls in the Federation can clearly be seen sporting braids, weaves, extension pieces, colour treated hair, not to mention the fanciest hairstyles attending school.
The staff member said that while people were blaming the schools for allowing the students to attend classes while they were clearly breaking school rules, the question that begged to be asked was how parents could allow their children to leave their homes dressed in that manner.
“If parents can give their daughter money to buy braids and get her hair done or see her with acrylic on her fingernails, then obviously they don’t have a problem sending their child to school like that. Even if the child wants to do it, the adult knows it is against school policy. So how can the school be expected to apply discipline when there is no discipline coming from the home? Teachers are simply protecting their own interest.
“This isn’t the old days, teachers walk around in fear, looking over their shoulders, not knowing who might be coming at them with a knife or something,” the woman said.
The Observer contacted Patrick Welcome, Chief Education Officer who said that the rules and regulations that guided schools years ago are still in effect today.
“Parents get a copy of the school rules and regulations along with the dresscode when their child is enrolled in a school. It is clearly outlined in the rules what the uniform should look like, what shoes, etc. It is still school rule that no jewellery except a watch is to be worn. Each school deals with situations as they occur but they are guided by the school rules. With regard to cell phones, we feel that we should not deny children of the technology, however we have clearly defined policies regulating how they can be used and what penalties are imposed if students violate the rules,” Welcome stated.
Not only have there been complaints about student attire, their conduct in public is also a source of debate. One popular shoe store has actually posted a sign on their door that says ‘no school children allowed unless accompanied by an adult over the age of 20’. Discussions in various social circles imply that people are appalled by the vulgarity in the speech and behaviour of teenagers while they don their school uniforms, and this applies to both male and female students.
One retired educator in Nevis told The Observer that teachers no longer cared, they showed up to work to collect a paycheck and had no regard for the students or institution.
“When teachers don’t care, then students won’t care. When I taught, my students had to be dressed properly, head to toe. they had to conduct themselves properly and show respect for me and their classmates. If I saw a young person anywhere, whether on school grounds or on the street conducting themselves in a disgraceful manner, I would say something to them whether they appreciated it or not. Today, the students are invisible to teachers. They probably figure that if the child is not their son, daughter or relative, they will not get involved. But I have to admit that I understand why they are sometimes reluctant to admonish these children today. Instead of apologising to the adult if chastised, most of them verbally abuse their elders,” she said.
When this comment was shared with the high school staff member, she responded by saying that teachers did not ‘interfere’ with students because they had been told in no uncertain terms by officials at the Ministry of Education that teachers could ‘part’ student fights at their own risk. As such, she said that she agreed with teachers not to attempt to discipline students, especially if the incident occured off school premises or after school hours.
