#BTEditorial – Our young people are rising to the challenge of youth. Let’s support them

Right on the heels of impressive displays of sportsmanship, determination and skill at this year’s Barbados Secondary School Athletic Championships (BSSAC) have come two excellent demonstrations that our faith in the nation’s youth is not misplaced.

First, we extend hearty congratulations to the Springer Memorial School for reclaiming their throne as the queens of athletics for the 17th time. Harrison College is no less deserving of commendation for taking the 12th boys’ titles after dominating their opponents.

Then on Monday, in The City, we were inspired by salutary solidarity from the boys and girls of the Frederick Smith Secondary School, the St George Secondary School and the Grantley Adams Memorial School in their March against the scourge of bullying.

Prime Minister Mia Mottley, in leading the applause for their efforts, said she was proud to see young Barbadians united in their call against a  practice she described as wrong in all forms.

Said Mottley: “We have a duty to try to make it each and every day, one day at a time. Forgive people, exhibit grace and graciousness and gratitude and we will all be the better for it as a people, as a family, as a community,” she said.

Mottley added that “we are not perfect, but we must make every effort to follow the example of those who practise values and virtues that make this world a better place”.

We couldn’t agree more.

The level of aggression in our society is unacceptable and it’s a crying shame that it has invaded our classrooms. Bullying has no place in our schools or society.

No one wants to be the subject of cruel taunts, rumours, or beatings. The violence involving our children that is now ever present on social media is both vexing and dangerous. Any initiative to combat the problem is worth fighting for.

We especially support the campaign by Chief Executive Officer of Supreme Counselling for Personal Development Shawn Clarke to enlist adults in the fight against bullying. 

Adults who encourage children to be violent to peers and urge minors to take weapons to schools to defend themselves should be held accountable for this reckless approach.

But having seen the strong show of support for change, we can’t just let the inspiring images of the day fade from memory; we must now take concerted action to create a safer environment for our children.

Just a few miles away from The City, one solution that could lead our youth into more wholesome activity was launched at Government Hill. Springer Memorial recorded yet another a historic first, launching the island’s first female company in the storied Barbados Cadet Corps. 

The Cadet Corps, one of this country’s oldest uniformed groups, is renowned for equipping students with leadership and life skills. It is an important programme to help stem indiscipline and we urge Government to promote and enable more schools to fully subscribe to the cadet programme.

We accept that there is no magic bullet to lessen indiscipline and the challenges facing our youth. These issues have to be tackled on all fronts. An expansion in the cadet corps to include all secondary schools is a positive start.

Yet it is heartening nonetheless that the last two weeks point to how a nation enlists its young people in healthy, productive and peaceful citizenship. It is with pride that we observe how our young people, with guidance from dedicated and principled teachers and school leaders, have led the race for the future. Let’s all get behind them.