“Our parents must be exemplars of right and responsible behaviour.” states Minister of Education the Honourable Anthony Garcia. This comment follows the circulation of a video depicting a parent and child physically assaulting a student. Minister Garcia expressed his complete disapproval and went on to question how children were supposed to behave if these are the types of examples being put before them, “A parent being involved in the physical assault of a child is unacceptable. We rely heavily on parents to be the first teachers of discipline, respect and morality and, to have any parent act in this way, diminishes the work that we as teachers are attempting to do and sends the wrong message to students.”
The Ministry of Education's School Supervision and Management Division has been in contact with the school and, on Monday, the School’s Supervisor will be on site to aide the principal in resolving this matter. As the Ministry continues to work toward reducing student indiscipline, recognition must given to the teachers who have been working with Management to ensure that all schools are well managed and governed.
This latest incident of student indiscipline in the streets reiterates the sentiments shared earlier this week of the need for increased partnership between the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service and the Ministry of Education.