Apply your mind to instructions and your ear to words of knowledge. Do not withhold discipline from a child if you beat him with a rod he will not die. If you beat him with the rod you will save his life from hell. – (Proverbs 23: 12-14).
IT WAS REPORTED in the DAILY NATION last week that the Principal of the Coleridge and Parry School, Vincent Fergusson, was frustrated by the behaviour of some of his students and had given them an ultimatum.
As a result some 40 students found outhow serious Ferguson was when they arrived for classes after 10 a.m., well after the stipulated8:30 a.m. start.
The students complained that they had been locked out by the security guard after arriving after 9:30 a.m. Some blamed their lateness on water problems, others cited transportation.
Tell me, why should children be arriving at school at 10 a.m.
Transportation is no excuse. One can see children at bus stops letting buses pass them, waiting for “hot” vans.
First of all, the Transport Board gives schoolchildren priority as far as buses are concerned. Working adults are made to suffer as a result.
Mr Ferguson, you must do whatever is needed to nip this type of behaviour in the bud, because employers will not accept those excuses when those same children eventually enter the world of work.
This writer is usually on time, and this habit was developed from my days at the Federal High School, for if you had arrived after 8:45 a.m. the gates would be shut and you would receive a flogging.
That discipline is still with me up to this day. Recently I was going to a 10 a.m. funeral and was in traffic from 9 a.m. up to 10:30 a.m.. Guess what I did? I turned around and returned home, because I do not go anywhere late.
I would like to ask a very important question to parents. How many adults that have to use the same transportation system can get to or have got to work 90 minutes late and still have a job?
Parents are making too many excuses for the nonsense their children are doing. The time is right for all parents to come together and support the schools in order that we can build a better Barbados going forward.
Bajan evening
The St Matthew’s Anglican Church will hold a Bajan evening tomorrow, on the church grounds, Jackmans, St Michael, from 3 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Luncheon
The St Martin’s Anglican Church will hold its annual luncheon on Sunday, at the Barbados Workers’ Union Labour College, Mangrove, St Philip at 12:30 p.m.
• The St Catherine’s Anglican Church will be holding its luncheon on Sunday, December 4, at the East Point Grill and Bar, St Philip.
Barbecue karaoke
• The Cathedral Church of St Michael All Angels will be having its 50th anniversary of Independence barbecue karaoke tomorrow, at The Deanery, Welches, St Michael from 6 p.m. to 11 p.m.
Harvest festival
The Bethlehem Moravian Church harvest festival takes place on Sunday at 3:30 pm.
Bazaar
The Holy Innocents Church will hold anIndependence bazaar on Saturday, November 26,at the church rectory, Ayshford, St Thomas from 1 p.m. to 10 p.m.
Zumba fitness
The St George Community will be having an Independence walk and Zumba fitness session,under the patronage of St George Parish Church on Saturday, November 26, starting from the church car park, at 6 a.m.
Feast of title
The Church of Christ the King’s feast of titlewill take place next week. On Sunday, the feast day of Christ the King, services will beat 8 a.m. (the beauty and benefits of baptism),and 6 p.m. – procession and evensong. There will be services on Monday, Wednesday and Friday at 7:30each night.
Patronal festival
The St Clement’s Anglican Church will hold its patronal festival next week. Services on Sunday will be at 7:30 a.m. and 5 p.m. From Tuesday to Thursday, there will be services at 7:30 p.m.
Death
It is with deep regret that we learnt of the death of Pamela Goring, a teacher at the Charles F. Broome Primary, on October 30. A memorial service will be held on November 18, at the New Dimensions Centre, Country Road, St Michael. This column expresses its sympathy to her husband, children, sisters and other family members. May she rest in Christ and rise in glory.
