edITORIAL - A case of misguided priorities?

THE second week of the Michaelmas term has passed and the island’s school children, from nursery to secondary level, have all settled down in classrooms to hit the books. However, while some are decked out in their new school uniforms that would have been purchased from the various uniform factory outlets, departments stores or custom-made, there are still a few who will be wearing outfits from the last school term.

 

Chalk it up to last minute shopping by parents or guardians who procrastinated, or even blame it on the current economic challenges where a lack of money has cut deep into the pockets of some. That would be all fair, but we must also consider other disturbing trends that have been developing in recent years.

 

Between June and August each year, there is national event that our country hosts with great pride and industry and, of course, many participate. A key ingredient of that ‘sweetest summer festival’ we call Crop Over is that one celebrates, as the name suggests, the end of harvest for the sugar crop. Sadly, it seems that sometimes there is also the celebration of the end of common sense as there have been reports of parents who chose to shell out hundreds of dollars on costumes without giving a thought to the fact that their limited budgets would not be able to meet the cost of school supplies as well. We are aware that some readers will think that this is ‘far fetched’, and they may be forgiven for that view, because, thankfully, this behaviour is the exception rather than the rule. However, even one case of such misguided priorities is cause for concern. 

 

At the start of this month, media houses would have paid visits to Bridgetown and other shopping areas to find out exactly the temperature of last-minute back-to-school sales, especially in the City. Though it appeared that many parents and guardians indicated they had shopped earlier and were just collecting a few knick-knacks, in some cases there was a heated rush to get uniforms. A few of the shoppers making this last-ditch effort were overheard commenting: “They will have to make do with that they have”; “I don’t have any money to spend on these”; “He would get another pants and two shirts when I see my hand”; or this gem from one lady: “I had to jump this year so I’m sorry. She isn’t learning anyway. She could wear her uniform from last term”.

 

Admittedly, yes, there are challenges. However, for a parent or a guardian to squander what is a golden opportunity for a child to move to another station in life, for something as trivial as a Kadooment costume, is downright wrong. Whether or not one agrees with the wearing of school uniforms is another discussion altogether, but for now it is the rule and must be obeyed. In our view, parents, wherever possible and within their means, should provide the necessary supplies for students who, after all, in the majority of cases, are attending school free at the point of delivery.

 

That said, students should also be aware that the school experience is not entirely about the uniform that is being worn. It is about taking hold of an opportunity to make a life for oneself. As the biblical saying goes, be wary of following multitudes to do evil. Chart a path, make sure it is a straight, narrow and correct path. Be somebody. We wish students, at all levels, all the best with their studies in this new school year.