Kelvin Simon, MP for St Mary’s South, is calling for increased security measures in schools to ensure the safety and well-being of students, teachers and staff. Following an incident involving gun violence at the Clare Hall Secondary School, Simon is proposing the installation of metal detectors in schools. He is also calling on the government to immediately deploy police or defence force patrols on all school compounds, in a bid to curb growing violence.
According to the former school guidance counselor, the government has done very little to arrest the surge of violence in schools. He alleges that many teachers have reported having to break-up fights and are concerned about their own safety. He is calling on the Prime Minister to immediately install safety teams trained to respond to emergencies on all school compounds.
“Going to school has become risky business in the lives of our children, teachers, principals, staff and even in the lives of parents who drop their children off to school,” Simon said. “The government has been asleep at the wheel when it comes to the welfare of our children and teachers, and I am calling on PM Browne to immediately mobilize a task force to include the Commissioner of Police and the head of the defense force and other stakeholders,” Simon added.
MP Simon is also calling on the Ministry of Education to develop and implement a comprehensive “Safe School Plan.” It should ensure that school compounds are protected with perimeter fencing, and that entrance gates are equipped with a security guard booth.
Simon believes that legislation must be introduced to enact a “Safe School Protection Plan” within school zones, to enforce a Zero Violence Policy. He recommends that the policies be enforced with specific, harsh punitive consequences for possession of a gun, knife or other weapon on school property. Committing an act of physical violence against other students or staff, being caught with drugs or alcohol on school property are some common activities that should be addressed by the Zero Violence Policy.
“Let us act before it’s too late. All parents, students, teachers, school staff, and members of the community need to be a part of this initiative to support a safe school environment. Parent Teacher Associations (PTAs) and other school-based groups can also help to identify the problems and causes of school violence and come up with possible solutions for prevention,” Simon stated.
As a guidance counselor with 14 years of experience, Simon has created a “10-Point School Safety Checklist to Prevent Violence in Schools.” He will present elements of his plan to schools, sporting teams and community groups. The plan recommends specialized training for the police, defence force, teachers, staff, students and parents in violence prevention. It also suggests that anonymous reporting systems be established for students to safely report concerns about violence or mental health.
The St Mary’s South representative believes that crime reduction begins with the creation of a supportive school environment, where students are taught to treat each other with respect, and thereby feel less inclined to engage in problematic behaviours. He also suggests that teachers, staff and parents receive ongoing training to recognize warning signs that a student might be at risk of violence. Simon believes that there needs to be ongoing communication and discussions between all stakeholders to set clear behavioural norms for the classroom.
“We have a lot of work to do, and the government must allocate more resources to prioritize the creation of safe school environments with zero tolerance of violence. As a community, we must organize and sponsor student-led activities that promote anti-violence, such as peer education, mediation, and mentoring. We must also create opportunities for students to openly discuss their fears and concerns about violence,” Simon concluded.
