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**Pied Piper** » 2012-02-27 12:18

@ Mr. Pompey; Yes the Education Act does state so, but lets not get confused with "holding back education for late students" with locking of the school gates.

You are very much aware in Antigua media and depending from whom its coming from, that the "deliberate" twist of one word in Antigua will have the political populace properly mis informed and the rediculing of those who are trying to do their jobs being "found guilty" with "no proof of guilt".

I and many persons, yourself included knows for a fact, that the gates are closed at 8 a.m. due to reasons inclusive of protection of students and faculty from wonderers onto the compounds and the primary capturing of tardy students/faculty.

You, parents and I know that the late comers who are serious about their education, 'fear' their parents/princip al would wait until the Principal reaches the gate to hear their reasons for tardiness and he/she would render punishment accordingly, "if" applicable.

The late comers who are not "interested" in their education or whatever we have to say will not wait at the gates but rather do a 360 and have some lame reason for being late and not in school.

**Barbudan** » 2012-02-24 19:59

There is a real serious problem with lateness in the schools and it needs to be addressed.The students are locked out at a point so that proper recording of late comers can be taken.

At 8am the bell is rung and students go to class to have their names marked.The late comers at most schools have to sign into a book under the supervision of student leaders (prefects).By 8:20 these leaders have to either leave for assembly or class.It is at that point that the gates are locked/closed.

After assembly a teacher or the principal is sent to record the late comers ,who get a late pass to enter their cl**.Students need to be recorded or they go straight to class and may be recorded absent.Many of them just ignore the rules and sneak into class in that period after assembly.That creates problems for the form teachers.

The form teachers check the late book to verify who came late on that day.The fact that you are in there means you were late not absent.Please let teachers do what they do...there is a method to the madness!

**WakeUPP** » 2012-02-24 19:13

According to the Education ACT all children of school going age SHALL be in school. Any School principal that contravene this, is breaking this ACT. And for the Ministry to condone these acts by school principals shows that they themselves are not performing their fiduciary duty to the students. Children ought to be in school that is the reason why society builds them. We cannot allow the myopic view a few to push back the education of the society as a whole. Society continues to decry the youths for their lack of focus, but it is the same society that would says if you come late you will not be educated. And for those who might say that we should be teaching our children to be early to school, I applaud you, but as long as they show up they should be welcome and be dealt with for this tardiness. Our children should be taught true life skills. Do employers shut the door when we as adults come to work late? We would be by our unions seeking redress. We better get real in this place.

**rupert j.** » 2012-02-24 18:02

How does Mr Pompey know that what he is suggesting has not been tried alrerady, the way in which he is speaking is like he knows what is going on in the school, as an old police officer I would have thought that he would have done some investigative work in order to get to the bottom of te problem.

**fnpsr** » 2012-02-24 17:41

I do not agree with the policy of locking students out because they are late for class. I believe that when a student is late that he should go to the Principal’s to explain his tardiness and receive a note to enter class. Depending on the reason for the tardiness, appropriate discipline would be administered or no discipline at all. Such discipline, where warranted, may include supervised detention after school, extra assignments, tidying of the class rooms, such as dusting the chalkboard, putting the chairs on the desk, teacher’s helper and the like.

I agree that students must be on time for school. Therefore it is the students’ parents to ensure that the kids are on time when the bell rings. This simple trait will go a long way in ensuring that the kids grow up as responsible adults and will show up for work in the real world on time.

Sometime all it takes by school administrators is a little common sense and flexibility.

“Let’s fix the little things before we attempt to fix the big things.”

**tenman** » 2012-02-24 15:36

Mr. Pompey as usual well said. As usual we keep on with the knee ** reactions and ignore the consequences of such bad decisions. Let me also add there are things out of a parents control which could cause tardiness, eg, an ill parent or a vehicular accident caused by someone other than the parent on the way to taking the child to school.

..

**Lester Baldwin** » 2012-02-24 14:02

This is the most ridiculous thing I ever saw in my life. Have these people never heard about detention or other forms of punishment. they are rewarding the students with a day off for coming late. Do they think the kids rather go to school than play on their computers or cell phone all day. Or more importantly ... if a student didn't finish or complete his or her homework all they have to do is show up to school late and they have another day to work with ... if a student wants to go visit their boyfriend or girlfriend all they have to do is show up late ... you know most parents always pick up for their children so the kids are gonna say "mommy I was just 2 minutes late because the bus driver did this and that" ... If I sent my child to school and they refused to let him in because of lateness I would be upset to know my child is roaming the streets when I sent him to learn ... give them detention, let them clean up the yard, but don't send them home!!!

**lionman** » 2012-02-24 13:45

Just because a person is not a parent does not mean they are not able to cmment because many of us have relatives or siblings who are affected by this rule. Yea you are right children have to learn responsibilitie s and accountability but who was the one waking you up in the morning, dressing you, and preparing your breakfast; bviously it was not you. In majority of the actions children display are learned in their primary environment which is home and form others so the parents feet should be held to the fire. If the principal is going to hold these students accountable for their tardiness then the teachers who are coming late should be held at a higher accountability and should be suspended or docked pay for the day just the same way these children are prohibitted from attaining their daily education. Education is not previledge but necessary requirement, and right. Preventing these children from attaining their education is not acceptable especially when it cost parents money to send their children to school (ie taxes). Hold them at the gate take names and excueses then incorporate proper punishment for those who do not have a reasonable excuse.

**RAWLSTON POMPEY** » 2012-02-24 11:29

Good Day Pied Piper. Appreciate your comments. However, you appeared not to have been looking at the bigger picture.

It was obvious that either you may have paid scant attention to what the Journalist wrote at "...PARAGRAPH 5," something one would expect a Sixth grader to comprehend or that in your exuberance to comment, you had missed it completely.
Suffice it to provide for your knowledge, Section 47 of the Education Act, Chapter 145, states "...An Education officer has jurisdiction and ...SHALL be responsible for the enforcement of COMPULSORY SCHOOL ATTENDANCE" of ALL CHILDREN of compulsory school age in ...ANY DISTRICT.
The locking of gates goes to "...SAFETY AND SECURITY" of both students and educators, not to instill discipline. There may be other reasonable and effective measures to be considered. How does the educator report on the student's "...ABSENCE FROM SCHOOL," as opposed to marking him/her "...LATE." Since they are turned away from receiving that which parents and/or guardians had sent them to receive, Pied Piper, "...How do you reconcile that?

**Endorsed Parent** » 2012-02-24 11:20

Half the persons commenting dont even have a child or responsible for one. I am a single mother that works shifts and I make it my business to be involved in homework, meetings etc after breakfast my son is at school the latest 7:20am this teaches him responsiblility for later in life and also he's not rushing to run through a gate.

Parents need to be accountable for their children show them good example. It's amazing that it is usually the same faces strolling to school after 8 every morning yet their parents are early for work daily.

Just like my parents did when I was a child go to bed early wake up early it's that simple!!

**lionman** » 2012-02-24 11:07

If teachers are allowed to enter when they are late what is this action teaching children "the powerless or those who are consider powerless and voiceless are held accountable to the rules but those who have clout are exempted" This principal is really teaching a true life exprience that in our society there is a double standard and the rules only apply to certain people. The teachers who are coming late are the ones who suppose to be repremended in a harsher manner than how these children are being repremended. Adults have control over arriving to work late or early children do not. This issue really have me hot especially as a social worker advocating for children safety and well being. Where are the advocates for children and why are they not placing an emphasis on this ordeal.

**skyewill** » 2012-02-24 11:07

For every 10 minutes they late they get an extra hour of detention. They are children and will do wha childre do locking them out is wrong

**lionman** » 2012-02-24 10:52

I also believe the response given by the Supervisor for secondary school education, Clare Browne, is an easy cop out rather than stating they will look into the situation and seek other resolutions to the arising matter. It is also displaying a safety issue for these students especially when parents are sending their children off to school where they are suppose to be in a safe environment among professionals ensuring their safety and well being but instead the officals are locking out the children and leaving them to roam the streets. Are they notifying the parents they are not letting the children into school and they need to come pick them up? So parents are at work thinking their children are in safe hands but these same people who they place their trust and the lives of their children are actually not doing what they suppose to. Alternative punishment needs to be implemented and the principal needs better training because I know as a human being he has been late for appointments or other obligations. Parents need to take a stand and protest in front of the school to place pressure on this principal to implement other diciplinary techniques for tardiness.

**lionman** » 2012-02-24 10:46

What is locking out students proving. First these kids need an education they are the future of our country. Now if you are locking out students you are limiting their ability to acquire an education which also leads to poverty, which goes hand and hand with criminal activities. Go ahead and lock out these kids because the harsh realities of the streets with embrace them and they will be the ones robbing you at gun point. Locking the children out of school and no providing alternative for punishments is erroneous it really proves just because someone has a high education and status in society doesn't mean they can make sensible decisions. If you take the late students put them to the side and acquire the reason for being late or whatever written excuses they have and the ones without excuses are given after school detention would be suitable but to restrict a child of an education is ignorance. We are not running a detention center and yes certain things have to be taught to our children to make sure they become responsible adults but this approach is rediculous.

**Pied Piper** » 2012-02-24 10:10

As usual if you are not in the kitchen don't question why the heat is not cold.

Mr. Pompey if you didnt already know that before someone becomes a police officer he/she must be prepared to know the facts of life. One of these facts is that when you join the police force you are given a schedule of work hours. If you are tardy in your shift there are disciplinary measures inclusive of it showing up in your evaluation report too. What did you do when Officers turned up late for work/assignemts ? Well i guess we already know due to the cries we have heard about how slack the force was/is.

Mr. Pompey under your watch some principals were closing the gates at 8 and they would meet the late comers, some would get a slap on the wrists whiles others would get other forms of punishment according to the habitual re-occurences.

Mr. Pompey and others please stick to your day jobs. Let the Principals do their jobs in respect. Its parents like me and you who stick our mouths in "areas" of the school system that breed an immoral, chaotic, and rude society. Appreciate the Principals for at least trying to curb lateness in the Schools

**wadadlineko** » 2012-02-24 09:48

I don't see nothing wrong with them locking the gates. They did it when I was going secondary school and that was 10 years ago. However what they did was place someone at the gate who took your name down and you were allowed to enter however you had detention that week for being late. I trust me after spending time in detention that a lone would encourage you to come early next time. Parents always make excuse for their children when really and truly their children aren't interested in school and have no desire being there so no matter if the gate is locked, open, partially open does that mean that child is going to learn anything if their mind is dead set against it. You can lead a horse to water but that does that necessarily means that it will drink? So what punishment do you think they should inflict on them since most of you are against corporal punishment or cleaning the school compound? :sigh:

**nameless** » 2012-02-24 09:46

once again education is taken hit and but no-other by the people placed in charge to make sure our children gets what they need to become part of a society that these same principles and teachers live in.
now dont get me wrong, i do believe that one should also be taught the need to be tardy and from and from an early age too, but locking them out of SCHOOL is leading to trouble.
before this so call principle refuse entrance did he stop to find out what was the cause for such lateness and what kind of an example is he setting when he allow teachers to enter who too were late.
why not offer after school detention, for those who arrives late and isnt 20 minutes a bit too soon to be locking teachers and sutdents out?? why not call the parents and ask them to come get these students who are late then letting them out on the streets of st johns to do only god knows??

**wadadlichild** » 2012-02-24 09:05

Locking the gates is such a short sighted solution. It appears there was a legitimate reason for the lateness of many students due to a shortage of buses coming from the Bendals area.

The aspect that alarmed me most is what if one of the students who was locked out and upon leaving the school was hit by an automobile? What would that principal say to the parents of that child. This guideline that let principals determine discipline should be revised. They should be some kind of blanket policy to ensure fairness on particular issues. On more serious violations the issue should be taken up with the ministry directly.

**Dig It** » 2012-02-24 08:03

I believe this situation needs to address fully by the Ministry and those Principals who engaged in these practices. While I agree some sort of discipline should be implemented, the matter shouldn't be left up to each individual schools. They should be proper measures in place when it comes to "tardiness" across the board! No School Prinipal that I know likes to see students coming to school late but it is unfortunate that these incidents will occur. Yet, what message are we sending to the students at OCS or any school, when we "locked the gates" at them but allowed "tardy" teachers to enter? Where do we expect the students to go, once they are turned away? Why not allow them in the school with some sort intervention that would them to be taught by a Special Assigned teacher, so they wouldn't disrupt the class where other students are learning? Or, why not discipline them at a later date with volunteering their service to clean the school or the community? Obviously, my ideas may not be sound to ALL stakeholders in the education system in fixing the problem fairly but something has to be done "uniformly," so no child is left behind.

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