By Claudia Liburd
Reporter-SKNVibes.com
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| Deputy Premier of Nevis, Hon. Hensley Daniel |
(Charlestown; Nevis): The Deputy Premier of Nevis, Hon. Hensley Daniel has strongly expressed his disapproval for the schoolyard violence, which has recently surfaced on island.
His remarks came in the wake of a schoolyard squabble, which took place at the Charlestown Secondary School (CSS) last week and leaving more than 14 students suspended from school. Some speculate that the fight was the result of a gang warfare which is presently ongoing between Charlestown and Cotton Ground youth.
However, Daniel is not of the opinion that schoolyard violence is on the rise. Conversely, he intimated that while the incident at CSS needs to be dealt with firmly the students have redeeming qualities, which need to be developed.
"Schoolyard violence is not on the rise," he said. "You have the sporadic outbreaks every minute, I do not think that we have a breed of bad people but as a social service practitioner I believe that all these children have redeeming qualities. I just think that we need to expand the children's options."
He continued: "It means that you have a number of children who have to learn to manage their anger. This anger is turning into rage and we have to talk to our children long and hard about controlling their anger. Somehow there appears to be this short fuse in children who are not known for violence but who have limited options."
The Deputy Premier explained that moves were afoot in the Social Services Department to provide these young people with Anger Management training.
"We will work to get the children to deal with anger in a simulative kind of way and through psychodrama and so on. Anger management is serious because people say things everyday to make you angry but you cannot allow that to make you commit violence," the Deputy Premiere said.~~Adz:Right~~
"The young children we sometimes have taken them for granted as our young children when we see them in the supermarket or in the stores how they respond to directions from the parents," he said. 'You need to pick that up from early and stamp it out of them."
Daniel explained his view that guidance, counselling and training should be provided to help parents deal with youth aggression.
"You have to train the children early and help the children manage the violence. You have to be aware that it happens all the time and especially at schools one has to ensure that the children are supervised. They would have less time to fight if they are supervised. The four units of society, the home, the school, the church and the community ultimately have to share the same set of values,' he concluded.
