CLICK HERE TO JOIN OUR WHAT’S APP GROUP
Dear Editor,
For years, public schools have been placed under the microscope, often receiving media attention for every misstep, while private schools are consistently praised for their high academic performance and polished public image.
CLICK HERE TO JOIN OUR WHAT’S APP GROUP
But behind those glowing reputations, there may be troubling issues that parents are completely unaware of.
I fully support discipline in schools, but we must ask: At what point does discipline turn into abuse of power?
My six-year-old son is usually eager to share stories about his day. However, recently his conversations have become alarming. He talks about teachers becoming angry when students struggle to understand a lesson.
He even mentions that the headmistress behaves the same way—so much so that students dread when she enters the classroom, because she is known to beat them on their knuckles if they fail to grasp a concept immediately.
He describes teachers throwing rulers and dusters, shouting at children, and calling them “stupid.”
This is not discipline. This is intimidation. And unfortunately, this might be only the surface of what is happening.
If this is what my child witnesses, I shudder to think about what may be happening to students who learn more slowly, have behavioural challenges, or simply cannot meet unrealistic expectations.
Even more concerning is what many parents refer to as “double discipline”—a student receives punishment from a teacher, and then the principal punishes them again for the same issue.
In some cases, children are beaten by both teacher and head teacher. Or they face detention followed by suspension. This is not corrective discipline; this is excessive, harmful, and demoralizing.
Private schools rarely call parents to address their own inappropriate conduct, yet they have no hesitation in contacting parents whenever a child’s behaviour may reflect poorly on the institution.
I am urging parents: Talk to your children. Ask them what is happening in their classrooms. Ask whether they feel safe, respected, and supported. We entrust these schools with our children’s wellbeing, and we cannot afford to turn a blind eye.
We must also teach our children to be respectful and compassionate—this can help reduce a teacher’s stress—but that does not justify abuse. Learning should never be driven by fear.
It is time we stamp out excessive beating and harmful disciplinary practices. If a child is not grasping a concept, the solution is not violence. It is better teaching methods, patience, and understanding.
Our children deserve to learn in a safe environment—not one where fear is part of the curriculum.
CLICK HERE TO JOIN OUR WHAT’S APP GROUP
CLICK HERE TO JOIN OUR WHAT’S APP GROUP
CLICK HERE TO JOIN OUR WHAT’S APP GROUP
CLICK HERE TO JOIN OUR WHAT’S APP GROUP
CLICK HERE TO JOIN OUR WHAT’S APP GROUP
CLICK HERE TO JOIN OUR WHAT’S APP GROUP
CLICK HERE TO JOIN OUR WHAT’S APP GROUP
CLICK HERE TO JOIN OUR WHAT’S APP GROUP
CLICK HERE TO JOIN OUR WHAT’S APP GROUP
CLICK HERE TO JOIN OUR WHAT’S APP GROUP
CLICK HERE TO JOIN OUR WHAT’S APP GROUP
CLICK HERE TO JOIN OUR WHAT’S APP GROUP
CLICK HERE TO JOIN OUR WHAT’S APP GROUP
CLICK HERE TO JOIN OUR WHAT’S APP GROUP
CLICK HERE TO JOIN OUR WHAT’S APP GROUP
CLICK HERE TO JOIN OUR WHAT’S APP GROUP
CLICK HERE TO JOIN OUR WHAT’S APP GROUP
CLICK HERE TO JOIN OUR WHAT’S APP GROUP
CLICK HERE TO JOIN OUR WHAT’S APP GROUP
CLICK HERE TO JOIN OUR WHAT’S APP GROUP
Advertise with the mоѕt vіѕіtеd nеwѕ ѕіtе іn Antigua!
We offer fully customizable and flexible digital marketing packages.
Contact us at [email protected]
I get that the writer is airing frustration and trying to bring about dialog however, it is unfair to use the blanket of private schools. Because the writer’s son only attends one school she should have focused on that particular school. I teach at a private school and no such things are done there so someone reading the article may want to paint all private schools with this broad brush. Writer, name the school and have the relevant authorities ask the right questions, otherwise do not paint all private schools with the same brush.
So are you going to remove your son from that school?
Let me know when your son is no longer a student of the school you’re writing about
Excellent piece author. As you can see people will attack you, but creating awareness is the key. Who ever feels it is not important for society, but only think of what’s theirs, always seem to be the ones who get shocked the hardest.
See something say something, it takes the community to raise children. Ask yourselves, “do the kids look alright in Antigua, does the future look bright for them”.
Look into those “white ppl schools” too.
Racism is rampant. They don’t even want “coloured children” riding the same schoolbus with their kind.
As much as she should have named the school, if there is an outstanding issue, she may have been putting the same child in danger. ALL schools should be made aware of excessive disciplinary issues since iT is NOT the teacher OR principal’s right!!
It’s actually opposite. Look at Conductors in the bus how rasist they are to white kids ans parents.and it’s not ending there … So yes lotas of racism unfortunately
Antigua people are the worse in this world. In
Always attacting people when they talk the Truth. That is why u all little girls and boys getting focked and bull right on school compound by people u all put trust in, and u all are so dumb to see what is going on. When you all boys and girls started behaving hostile, angry, and stared disrespecting you all, you all wonder why. So fucking stupid with you all blind dumb self. Every parent should be concern about what is taking place in all the School in Antigua and Barbuda. All I say all.
The government/ ministry of education should set certain standards/ rules. All schools in Antigua need to be monitored by law by ministry of education officials. These private schools must fall in line when it comes to discipline and other requirements set forward by the government. There is one particular high school on the ISLAND that threatened the education official for stating facts. That the government schools must accept and work with all children while this school takes selected children and doesn’t work with children that a slightly struggling with a subject. I know that they get subsidies from the government. However subsidies or no subsidies the government needs to put legal regulations in place.
Unfortunately a learning environment includes the teacher and the students. If either side is misbehaving then the environment would not be productive.
Yea parents who went to government schools are now paying 3000 per term for this type of treatment to their kids
If white folks have a problem with black kids why not just pack the fuck up and get out of our country.
@ Frankly speaking,
While the subject is on abuse by school authorities in private schools; you touch on a sour subject that Antiguans refuse to acknowledge.
Antigua and Barbuda has become a segregated state with colour line barriers.
We use and enforce the paper bag test where colorism within communities and groups is used as a metaphor for color-based social stratification.
This social based stratification continues generation after generations becoming the underlying factor that drives our society.
It’s the reason why makes marry to lighter and brighter. Women marry based in the size of the bank accounts of tge “Nepo-babies”
The “Nepo-babies” thrive and protect inefficiency and corruption; so they are the only ones with the inside track to public resources.
We have heard for years complaints of this nature, yet nothing is ever done to correct the many ills. Why??? Do these schools contribute more to the public purse than others and is this the reason why the are allowed carte blanche to destroy the psyche and future of OUR children? Government needs to be far more proactive and interactive in these private schools to ensure that their conduct and standards are in keeping with OUR expectations and demands. As for that school on our ISLAND, serious investigations need to be conducted to ascertain not IF, but the EXTENT of the atrocities being allowed, with the full knowledge of the Government of Antigua and Barbuda -from issues as “small” as school bus allocations, to staff relations, to teaching methodologies and standards, to open and honest assessment of student successes. Our parents, in their desperate bid to “belong”, rub shoulders with (in their own small minds) with the rich and famous/infamous bite their tongues in order to maintain this facade of normalcy. Antigua and Barbuda is NOT a country of equal rights and opportunities for all, and until WE THE PEOPLE stop cowering before these monied, racist, “investors”, nothing will ever change!
Comments are closed.