Teachers react to student murders
Yesterday police urged parents and teachers to work together to protect the children and monitor their behavior. Today News Five spoke with some teachers, all of whom reacted strongly to the brutal murder of this young St. Ignatius Student who is so much like the students they work with everyday.
Lavern Andrewin, Teacher, St. Luke’s Primary School
“We are very frightened and we are very appalled of the situation and about the things that are happening today. And we are very afraid because the children here at our school to my mind are at risk of these occurrences. So we are very frightened and are very afraid. Some children have been in situations before so I understand us being afraid and the parents taking precautionary measures.”
Delcy Young, Principal, Holy Redeemer Middle School
“To be truthful Hyacinth, words cannot explain how we feel at this point. When I got the news, I informed the teachers about what came over the radio and the teachers were in a state of shock – horrified, frightened and devastated.”
Brigid Wilson, Principal, St. Joseph Primary School
“I deal with the older children and a lot of them were very sad. A lot of them knew the child. It is pitiful especially when they told us about the brutal way the child was murdered.”
They all say that because of this devastation they are even more worried about the children’s safety and what schools can do to protect the kids.
Lavern Andrewin
“We warn them everyday and we tell them to travel in groups. We tell the girls, especially girls, to make sure they’re never alone. We don’t send them anywhere by themselves.”
Delcy Young
“We have pep talks ever so often, but more so with this recent crisis.”
Brigid Wilson
“We have a security at the gate and if you notice the yard is fenced. So I think they are safe here. The security has instructions that the children are not to go out of the gate once they are in.”
The two principals we spoke to believe there are many factors which contributed to Jackie’s death and the prevalence of sexual abuse of young girls.
Delcy Young
“Well I think that the children who at risk come from very poor socio-economic backgrounds and they need some kind of help. Especially children who are living with grandmothers, who are living in single parent situations. Too many fathers neglecting their duties.”
Brigid Wilson
“My suggestion would be for the parents to know where their children are. Know who are their friends and try to get your children’s confidence. Keep closer to your children and try to be their friends.”
An emergency meeting organized by the National Organization for the Prevention of Child Abuse, NOPCA was held this evening after the funeral to solicit ideas on how the society can put an end to the violence. If you would like to express your views or ask what you can do for your children, you are invited to a children’s summit sponsored by UNICEF on Saturday at St. Mary’s Hall. The Prime Minister will be among the panelists and the event, which begins at one p.m., will be broadcast live here on Channel Five. On Monday the Minister of Human Development Dolores Balderamos Garcia is hosting a meeting at the Radisson Fort George to look at the issue of child abuse and what can be done in this crisis situation. And, in a show of solidarity with their younger brothers and sisters the students of S.J.C. Sixth Form are staging a peaceful protest against the violence on Monday afternoon at Battlefield Park.
