OUTSIDE THE PULPIT: Support teachers in disciplining kids

But she came and knelt before him saying, “Lord help me.” And he answered: “It is not fair to take the children’s bread and throw it to the dogs.” She said: “Yes Lord yet even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their master’s table.” – Matthew 15 verses 25 to 27.

I HAD REFRAINED from writing on the violent incident at Ellerslie Secondary School, but after so much debate on the radio call-in programmes and the many articles in the printed media, I have decided to add a new perspective.

I am not here to say who is right or who is wrong because I was not there, but I think that many of the callers to the radio stations and writers to the press have overlooked the main issues which are the alleged spitting and kicking. The point that is being overlooked is that no one has the right to spit at or kick another human being, or even a dog.

There are some dogs that are treated better than humans. I am aware that there are persons in the world who travel from point A to point B with their dogs.

This story is true; a dog was taken on holiday by its owners overseas and while there it took ill and died, its body was sent to a funeral home to be embalmed. It was then flown back to its native country for burial.

I used that example to show that dogs (animals) are well taken care of.

It takes a lot these days to be a teacher. There are too many children in our schools, especially at primary level, who are very disrespectful to their teachers and this is not right. They will take the same behaviour to the secondary school. We cannot allow the children to run our schools. The adults (teachers) are the ones entrusted with this task.

The big problem we are faced with is that today’s parents are not teaching their children how to behave and how to respect all those in authority

There is also a very big problem coming from persons in position of public trust that should know better, but every time they open their mouths one gets the impression that they are putting down teachers and this is not good.

As a former teacher, I will never pull down any teacher in my column, because they are there to guide our children.

I am appealing to parents, guardians and those in public trust to support our teachers, especially when it comes to discipline. If we do not support them, then the situation can only get worse.

T20 cricket

The Moravian Church’s Rev Rudolph Holder Tape Ball T20 Cricket Competition continues tonight at the James Bryan Pavilion, Market Hill, St George. Combined CCF Moravian will play Sharon Moravian at 7 p.m.

Car boot sale

The James Street Methodist Church will be holding a car boot and tent sale tomorrow from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Fair

The St Catherine Church will be holding its annual fair on Monday on the grounds of the St Catherine Sports Club, Bayfield, St Philip from noon to 8 p.m.

Patronal festivals

The St Mark Anglican Church’s patronal festival continues tonight with a service at 7:30 p.m. The church’s Ushers’ Guild will be having a tea party and bonnet parade tomorrow on the lawns of Codrington College at 4 p.m. Sing Out Barbados will make a special guest appearance.

The St John Parish Church will be celebrating its 180th Anniversary and patronal festival from Sunday. The feast night is next Friday at 7:30 p.m. when the preacher will be Canon George Knight.

The St Philip Parish Church will be observing its feast of title and patronal festival from Sunday. This year the theme is Being A Beacon Of Christ’s Presence In The Community: Building Up The Family Of God.

On, the sacrament of Holy Confirmation will be administered by Archbishop Dr John Holder at 8 a.m. At 6 p.m., Canon Coleridge Darlington will preach at solemn evensong.

On Monday, the church will have a family fun and sports day at King George V Park, St Philip from 10 a.m.

Concerts

The St Philip-the-Less Mothers’ Union will be holding its annual concert on Sunday at the church at 4 p.m.

The Ebenezer Methodist Circuit is hosting two concerts; Classic Youth tomorrow at 6 p.m. and Classic Choirs on Sunday at 5 p.m. at Beulah Methodist Church.

Death

It is with great regret that we learnt of the death of Yvonne Forde who died on Sunday. She was a faithful member of the St Joseph’s Parish Church. This column extends its deepest sympathy to her husband Stephen and her daughters. May she rest in Jesus Christ and rise in Glory.