Guidance counsellor wants more responsible parenting

Following clashes among students of several high schools which resulted in the closure of Mona High School for two days, a guidance counsellor is encouraging parents to do more to guide their children and help them develop better conflict resolution skills.

The counsellor, who wished not to be named, told THE STAR that in his five years in the job, he has noticed that many children are parenting themselves and parents are displaying "a high level of irresponsibility".

"These issues cannot just be handled from the institutional level. Parents have to get involved, but when yuh call the parents, yuh lucky enough if you get through," he said. The counsellor said that even after making contact with parents, and a date is set for a consultation, many don't show up.

"How is the child going to change?" he questioned. "If you make no effort to resolve the issue, then you're breeding a monster, because now, that child knows he or she can get away with anything."

He suggested that to reduce the violence in schools, parents need to "follow them (their children) up 24/7".

"You have to know what they're doing, know their friends, know where they're going. When them a leave for school, check them bag. When them come home, check them bag. Search them before them leave home. It has to be intentional. Pickney walk with machete come a school, enuh," he said. The counsellor also said that the education ministry should also be more proactive while ensuring that schools are secure and the security systems are maintained.

"So if a child breaches the fence or whatever the case is, then them and their parents have to pay for it. If them destroy cameras weh set up, you hold them accountable," he said.