President urges stronger church-school links

A closer partnership between churches and schools is needed to help counter rising concerns about youth violence and indiscipline, President Jeffrey Bostic insisted on Wednesday, as he praised one Bridgetown primary school for preserving a model he believes has largely faded from the education system.

The President did not address constitutional boundaries between church and state as he praised the Bridgetown Seventh-day Adventist Primary School on Dalkeith Road, St Michael. Bostic said the school’s faith-based foundation stood out as an example of the values and guidance needed to help young people navigate an increasingly challenging society.

He said: “The fact that this school is a school that belongs to a faith organisation in this country, that took me back to my time as a boy when that was the case and that the churches played a significant part with the students and with the schools. 

“The most important thing for me about that relationship, that it gave all of us of that period a foundation that made us recognize good from bad, good from evil, right from wrong. And quite frankly, that is what is missing in our schools at this point in time.”

For much of Barbados’s history, schools were created and funded by the Anglican Church, the official church from colonisation in 1627 to just after independence in 1969. Schools were also established by the Roman Catholic, Moravian, and Methodist churches. 

While Bostic’s remarks highlight the historical role of churches in shaping moral and social values within schools, Barbados’ education system operates within a constitutional framework that upholds the separation of church and state. 

Although faith-based schools continue to function alongside government schools and may incorporate religious instruction, official policy and curriculum standards are set by the Ministry of Education Transformation, maintaining secular governance in public education.

The Bridgetown Seventh Day Adventist Primary School Choir. (Photo Credit: Lauryn Escamilla/Barbados TODAY)

The president’s comments came after receiving a welcome from students and staff, including performances by the preschool and reception classes, which sang a welcome song, a Bible verse presentation by the infants B class, and a rendition of Welcome the Morning Sun by Carlyn Leacock from the school’s string orchestra. The school’s choir also entertained guests with the song I’ve Got Joy.

The Preschool and Reception classes that sang a Welcome song. (Photo Credit: Lauryn Escamilla/Barbados TODAY)

Bostic said he was impressed by what he had seen at the school, particularly the level of participation among boys in extracurricular activities.

“I am exceedingly happy and rejuvenated at what I have experienced so far at this school,” he said.

“At no school I have visited, and I’ve done quite a few, although I have a lot more to go, I have not seen so many boys involved in so many activities.”

He also praised the school’s string orchestra:

The Bridgetown Seventh Day Adventist String Orchestra. (Photo Credit: Lauryn Escamilla/Barbados TODAY)

“I’ve never seen so many young people playing violin at school. Well done. God willing, my next visit here, I hope to see some more boys that are playing violin. There’s something special that you have here.”

Against the backdrop of growing concern about youth violence and indiscipline, Bostic used the occasion to challenge students to become what he called a “Peace Patrol”, encouraging them to reject violence and become positive influences in their communities.

“We’ve been having some misuse. Lately, some of our youth have been making some very bad choices, choices that are leading them to do some very bad things. Horrible fights, shootings, anger, and a lack of patience and a lack of discipline.” 

“So I want to say to you, students of this school, that you are part of God’s super team. And God’s team is what I refer to as the Peace Patrol.”

The president told students that choosing peace required courage and strength.

“Walking away when someone wants to fight, that is equal to superpower. Saying ‘I am sorry’ even if you are only a little bit wrong, that is equal to superpower.”

“Kindness is not a sign of weakness. Kindness is strength. Kindness represents an inner strength that is stronger than physical strength.”

Referring to recent incidents of violence involving school-aged children, he said he was deeply troubled by videos circulating on social media.

“It hurts me to the core when I see on social media, school children fighting like crazy, fighting.”

President Bostic said it hurts him from two points of view: “The first one is that they know that they’re being filmed, but they do not care. And worst of all, there are so many other school children watching and cheering them on and no one is saying ‘stop fighting’. That tells me that the problem is bigger and deeper than we even think.”

But he stressed that the majority of young people were making positive contributions.

“Most of our young people are good. I see it every day in the schools.”

“Regrettably, the few who are doing these bad things, the few who are making very bad choices, they’re getting the headlines.”

“I think it is for our youth who are doing positive things, like you, to reclaim your territory, reclaim the land, and you can do it. Barbados is counting on you to do it.”

Earlier, president of the East Caribbean Conference of Seventh-day Adventists, Pastor Anthony Hall, highlighted the school’s long history and contribution to the education system.

“The roots of this noble institution stretch back to the twilight of the 19th century,” he said.

“For decades this school operated with humble retrofitted halls… driven by a singular conviction that the education of our children was paramount and that we needed to stimulate both their intellects and their souls.”

The school’s focus remained on the holistic development of students.

“When we examine the performance of the Bridgetown SDA Primary School over the years, we look beyond mere statistics to see our historical metric of success that it has always been focused on the whole development of the child.”

He added that the school continued to evolve to meet modern educational demands.

“More recently, under the leadership of our principal, Dr Cheryl Weeks, the school has shown immense agility in navigating the post-pandemic landscape.”

“This school has proactively launched targeted reading initiatives to ensure no child is left behind while simultaneously introducing coding, robotics and basic computer science to prepare our children for the digital future.”

Hall also underscored the school’s commitment to character formation.

“We do not merely teach lessons from a textbook here. We teach God’s word and we teach values. It’s about discipline. It’s about integrity. It is about a deep love for community and country and a strong relationship and fellowship with God.”

Principal Dr Cheryl Weekes thanked the president for accepting the school’s invitation and described the visit as a memorable moment for students and staff:

“Whilst… being very significant in the life of our children who will forever remember what you have shared with us today.”

The president’s visit and personal journey offered inspiration to students, said Dr Weekes.

“Your journey also provides an inspiration for children and adults alike as we continue to strive for excellence. And we have indeed accepted your challenge to be a part of the Peace Patrol.”

The visit concluded with a question-and-answer session during which students, teachers and parents asked the president about his childhood ambitions, his path to becoming president, solutions to gun violence, the country’s biggest challenges, family life, relaxation, his favourite food and even whether he says curry chicken or chicken curry.

Students asking the President of Barbados questions. (Photo Credit: Lauryn Escamilla/Barbados TODAY)

Before leaving, the President led students in a Peace Patrol pledge, declaring: “I choose peace with my words. I choose peace with my actions. Jesus is my captain. Barbados is counting on me.”

(LE)