ANGLICAN CLERIC Reverend Errington Massiah wants more autonomy for school principals.

Delivering the feature address at a breakfast meeting of the Association of Public Primary School Principals yesterday, he said Barbados needed strong leaders in the school system.

He told those gathered at Amaryllis Beach Resort, Hastings, Christ Church, that a school was not a place for democracy and said principals had "to do what you have to do" in the best interest of students and the schools.

"If you are appointed as a headteacher, you should be free to make decisions, not the Ministry [of Education]. You do not run a school from a ministry, it is a day-to-day thing."

Massiah however urged principals to exercise "mercy and compassion" in dealing with their charges.

He said there were too many weak principals in the system, noting they should not have to wait for answers for every situation from the ministry.

The rector of St Joseph's Anglican Church called on teachers to set high standards in their respective schools.

He said dress codes were for both students and teachers, adding students often took their cue from what teachers demonstrated.

Many parents, he added, were negligent and principals and teachers were saddled with an even harder task at schools.

He said this was an age when young children had no respect for law and order, and generally, for people in authority.

Massiah also said teachers had to make their teaching relevant to the times.

Meanwhile, president of the association, David Catlyn, called upon principals to make themselves au fait with the legislation that governed their profession, including laws and practices related to industrial relations.

He noted law and order were key components of a productive and progressive society, but added that from his observations, Barbados was not dealing adequately with the fall-out from these areas

"The schools, on a daily basis, witness the negative behaviour and the total disrespect for law and order at the community level," Catlyn said.

"It is necessary that the whole community work at reducing this indiscipline that is affecting the performance of schools at the primary and secondary level." (WG)