Educators, church leaders warn of moral crisis amid youth violence

Education and church leaders have underscored the urgent need for stronger moral grounding and values-based systems from an early age, particularly within the school environment, against the backdrop of what they describe as a growing pattern of deviance among young people and a series of recent violent crimes involving teenagers.

On Tuesday, education officials and church leaders told Barbados TODAY they were deeply concerned by the recent spate of criminal activity young men have been engaged in.

The issue has taken on renewed urgency following last week’s charging of two St Michael teenagers for separate murders.

Seventeen-year-old Adam Xavier Scott of Military Road, Bush Hall, is accused of murdering Timothy Trotman on December 22, while 16-year-old Malik Isaiah Blackman of 4th Avenue, Park Road, Bush Hall, was charged with the murder of Andy Arthur on December 21.

Both have been remanded to Dodds Prison until January 30.

The concerns also come amidst data released by the Criminal Justice Research and Planning Unit last November, which showed that 47 young men under the age of 25 were on remand.

Principal of Wesley Hall Juniors, Greig Walters, said educational institutions had a responsibility that extended beyond academics.

“We have a duty to take care of our students spiritually.

We have a duty to take care of them otherwise, and all of this is part of building character, instilling values, morals,” he said.

Walters explained that engaging faith-based organisations and engaging with the wider community were also critical to the development of students.

“It’s all part of the school’s curriculum, so we’re fulfilling that role. And since the school is part of a community, we are involving the members of the community in that role,” he said.

Referencing the recent cases involving teenagers charged with murder, Walters said early intervention was critical, even at the primary school level.

“It’s very important. We say train up a child in a way they should go, and as we get older, we will not depart from it,” he said, adding that spiritual grounding could serve as a moral guide.

“And if we have a compass, especially a spiritual compass, when we are tempted to do things then that compass will go off or should go off in our heads to say, well, this is the wrong thing to do, this is the right thing to do.”

Walters described this internal check as a conscience shaped by values and discipline.”Hence, we can perhaps speak about conscience. We can speak about the inner voice in my head, which keeps talking to me.”

“That voice should go off in your head. Having been given the grounding of the values, the morals, then that should go off at some point in time…” Walters said.

Walters also expressed concern about what he described as low levels of student involvement in faith-based organisations.

He recalled a time when church life was closely tied to community life.

“If we were to take a look at years gone by, our children were part of a church. Churches were part of the community, the village; and whether it was Sabbath or Sunday, students were required or children were required to go. And that was not a matter of debate or choice,” Walters said.

He said that model fostered community spirit and ensured children were occupied and supported, particularly during school holidays.

“Children were always occupied, and in a sense, parents had someone with that knowledge, you know what, my child is in good hands during the summer vacation, unlike now,” he said, adding that a return to such practices could have a positive impact.

Pastor at the James Street Methodist Church, Balsam Gambo also agreed with Walters.

He said education without moral grounding left a dangerous gap.

“It’s important because education is to build character and excellence, and if we are missing in that character, we will have children or adults that are very intelligent, but they don’t have that compass.

“When you have all that knowledge, you need to be guided by your faith, but guided by God. And that way, we will be able to have a very good nation. So that is very important, and especially starting at a very early age,” Gambo said.

Reverend Jefferson Alleyne of Chapman Street Church of God also underscored the importance of early intervention.

“When you look at a building, you don’t start at the top, you start from the foundation. And I firmly believe that with the children we should instil certain values,” Alleyne said.

He said the recent challenges involving young people were deeply troubling and required a collective response.

sheri
“It is concerning the challenges that we are having, especially from the youngsters. We really have to do our best to make sure that there’s a turnaround,” Alleyne said, adding, “collectively, we should be able to do it with the help of God.”

sheriabrathwaite@barbadostoday.bb