But I ask, why should we be building any more secondary schools? We do not need any more secondary schools in Barbados. What we need are two trade schools – one in the south and the other in the north.
The Samuel Jackman Prescod Polytechnic is not catering to many of our "dropouts"; it is more of an academic institution.
We also need schools of discipline and respect, for I am not convinced that most of our children value education. I have found that our education system is falling apart very rapidly.
What do we find? Students are very untidy on the school campuses and on the streets. Boys can be seen on the school campuses with their shirts outside of their trousers. The girls are no different for they are just like the boys, with their dresses (uniforms) opened showing their underwear. Some students even fail to attend classes, although they are at school.
What is next? Some male students can be seen lifting the skirts of female students. What role do prefects serve in our schools today?
I must make it abundantly clear that I am not getting at any school. I am just "ringing the bell".
It also seems to me that cursing is a second language these days in our schools and the country as a whole. When spoken to, the children see nothing wrong with it. A child even told me that I needed the Bible and must stay by it.
You only have to pay a visit to any of our school campuses announced or unannounced and you will hear the students using curse words regardless of who is there; they just don't care. Can anybody tell me what is wrong? They do not have any respect for our hardworking teachers.
Last week I was walking behind three young men on Broad Street and you should have heard the abusive language. It made me sick – every word was a curse word.
May I draw to your attention what St Paul had to say to the Colossians: "But now put them all away, anger, wrath, malice, slander and foul talk from your mouth." (Colossians 3:8)
Come on! What are our schools coming to?
Only this week, I saw a boy in short pants and a girl in overalls making love at the bus stop right in front of one of our secondary schools. What is next? Where have all the values gone? When spoken to, students are very rude to those in authority.
Education is no longer seen as a form of upward mobility. I believe that some children just go to school because they cannot do any better and are just sent.
When I was at school, we wore the school uniform with pride and dignity; no eating on the streets, no curse words, no shirts out of the trousers.
What are we going to do about the cursing? Let us drop it now before it is too late!
Codrington Service
Commemoration Day at Codrington will be on Saturday, May 17, at 11 a.m. with Holy Eucharist and Sermon.
Deanery meeting
The St John Deanery Council will be holding a meeting on Tuesday at 7:30 p.m. at St George's Parish Church Hall. All persons within the Deanery are invited.
Luncheon
St Philip-The-Less Anglican Church will be holding its annual Mother's Day luncheon on Sunday from 12:30 p.m. at Alexandra School, Speightstown, St Peter. There will be entertainment and a number of door prizes. Tickets are on sale and the public is invited.
Anniversary service
The Guild of Sanctuary (Altar Servers) will be holding its anniversary service on Whit Monday, May 12, at 10 a.m. at St David's Church. The celebrant and preacher will be Bishop Dr John Holder. All servers are asked to make a special effort to attend.
Health fair
The Southern District of the Seventh-Day Adventist Church will be holding a Health Fair on May 25 at the Christ Church Parish Church Centre from 4 p.m.
Blood pressure checks and sugar tests will be performed. Health books will be on sale as well as health literature. All are invited.
Congrats
Congratulations to Neil Patrick Jones, son of Keith and Pat Jones of Keith Jones Funeral Home. He will be graduating tomorrow as a medical doctor, specialising in clinical psychology. The graduation will take place at Sue University in North Carolina, United States. I wish Neil Jones well in his practice.
Luncheon
St Mary's Mother's Day luncheon will take place on Sunday at the home of the Cricket Legends, Fontabelle, St Michael, from 12:30 p.m. Tickets are on sale. The luncheon is being held under the patronage of National Hero the Right Excellent Sir Garfield Sobers.