by CAROL MARTINDALE

"If we lose the battle in relation to uniforms, if we lose the battle in relation to cell phones, if we lose the battle in relation to any other aspect of discipline, in my view we have lost it all."

Principal of Garrison Secondary School Matthew Farley

GARRISON SECONDARY SCHOOL PRINCIPAL Matthew Farley is firm in his stance and does not as much as flinch when he maintains that he will never preside over an institution where discipline is not upheld.

For him, it goes against the very ethos of schooling.

So, when he sent home 224 of his students from the Garrison Secondary School on Monday for flouting the school's dress code, this point was foremost in his mind.

"My concern is that total disregard for the dress code which goes unnoticed would have a ripple negative effect on other aspects of discipline in the school. And I cannot manage a school where there is no discipline. It would have a serious effect on the ethos of the school. The ethos of a school is preserved when you enforce the rules of the school," he said passionately during an interview with the SUNDAY SUN on Thursday, after days of public debate on his actions.

Farley, known for his fearless stand on issues that evoke much discussion and sometimes harsh criticism in society, is, however, never swayed from the mantra that has guided him throughout his 35 years in the teaching profession.

He didn't shift when he was at St Mary's Primary School and told delinquent parents there to collect their children by 5 p.m. or else he would take them to the police station.

And he certainly didn't when he told parents of Garrison students that it should be mandatory that they attend at least one form level meeting every year or else he would take action.

"You have to take strong stances on issues otherwise people would take schools and principals for granted," he said.

"From the time I assumed my role as a teacher 35 years ago at St John's Mixed School, at 19 years old, I've always had a very clear vision of what I perceived the role of the school to be. I've never seen the school limited to being an academic factory, every five years producing students who have a whole set of certificates.

"I've always seen the role of the school as being much wider than that. Therefore, the society depends on the school as it were to inculcate certain standards of discipline, deportment and speech. The general standards of society are established in the schools.

"If students feel they can come to school and ignore and disregard the school rules, disrespect the teachers and dress how they like, then I think when they leave school that kind of student is a serious threat to the employment market," he said.

It is against this background and thinking that this no-nonsense principal said "enough was enough" and sent those delinquent students back home to adjust their uniforms to conform with school rules.

For him those too-short hemlines were the last straw.

He admitted that while this was not the first time he had sent students back home for flouting the dress code, it was never in such large numbers.

This, he said, was an issue he had been fighting for some time since assuming the leadership of the school five years ago.

He rummaged through some papers on his desk until he deftly pulled out a document that showed that from 2005, he had been sending parents notices stating that the dress codes must be enforced. It stated, in part, that female students were required to wear their overalls and skirts two inches below the knee. This year they were warned that any deviation would result in suspension until the problem was corrected.

"Every July since then I have placed a letter in each child's report outlining the same requirements and that we will be enforcing those requirements. Whether or not the children [ have been] giving parents the report I do not know, but in terms of communication of my intention, there has been no lack on our part," he said.

The point was again reinforced, he said, when students collected their books. He sent out Short And Tight Skirt Blockade notices to female students and Oversized And Baggy Pants Blockade notices to male students.

Farley said another strategy employed last year to strengthen their effort was the introduction of Operation Enforce – an initiative which was to say to parents "we mean business on this matter so work with us".

But, according to him, the problem persisted.

He knows though that he has a fight on his hand, acknowledging that enforcing a dress code was not a "one-off thing".

"You have to be at it every day because the same child you send home today will return tomorrow without making any adjustments in relation to the uniform."

The principal said that after Monday's action, he then did follow-up on Tuesday and Wednesday tracking those students who were sent home to see if parents had made adjustments. He reported that some parents had made changes, while others did not.

"Some made adjustments but they still fell short of the requirements and I called them and told them that over the next ten days or so, I would expect them to make adjustments. I am working with those parents," he said.

"On Tuesday, I had 30 parents of third form students who had been suspended. They came to make sure the adjustments were satisfactory. In most cases they were and in cases where there were not, I gave them time to make the adjustments," he said, adding that those parents who did not come in, were called on Wednesday.

He promised to keep monitoring this situation, adding that reasonable time would be given based on circumstances, to make the necessary changes. He stressed that he was willing to work with parents, and appealed to them to reciprocate. He also appealed to them to regain control in the homes.

He said some parents give their children money to buy their uniforms and the students bought what they wanted. "Parents have relinquished their responsibility in that regard."

Farley said the major breaches at the start of the term were with the female students, noting though that the males already have been put on guard.

Of those sent home, 72 were third year students, 57 were fourth year and 95 were in their fifth year.

He believed the 1 036 students of the Garrison Secondary School were aware of what the expectations were. "They recognise that the principal is serious this time. I have seen a broadbase attempt by students to up the standards," he said, noting that an enforcement of the uniform code was insituted by the Ministry of Education years ago.

The principal's action has not only received support from Minister of Education Anthony Wood, but also his staff and the majority of parents.

He acknowledged, however, that while the majority of parents were supportive, there was a threatening minority that was cause for concern.

"Education is a partnership and if the school is going in one direction believing in one set of standards, and the parents are going in another, then the child would be the victim. It seems as though there is a disjuncture between values of parents and schools. That is where the tension is. In many homes students are calling the shots and parents have lost control, he said.

Farley believed that as society's standards have slipped over the years, the school's role in instilling standards is even greater.

"If we lose the battle with respect to discipline and standards in our schools, then in my view the society is going to see the negative results down the road. ...This is a battle for standards in the schools and therefore for standards in the wider society," he said.

For him, the schools represent the last vestige of hope in our society.