The Editor, Sir:

I am a 17-year-old student who currently attends a high school in Manchester. Over the six years that I've been in high school I have learnt a lot and I have matured immensely, despite the many challenges I have faced.

From grade 7 until now I have never been a teacher's pet and so I can relate to other students in the classroom who are never treated as favourites. What I've noticed is that the teachers' favourites often get away with things that others cannot, and that 'the not-favoured' students are often addressed in a manner that is disrespectful and uncouth.

Kicked out of class

I have been kicked out of class for some simple things and when I protested or defended myself, respectfully, I was labelled a troublemaker. My punishment has included a simple detention or even a suspension for standing up for my rights. The question must therefore be asked: Why can't students state their opinions without being ridiculed by teachers or other administrative staff?

During my fourth and fifth form years I was voted to become the Students' Council representative for my class. to my shock and utter dismay the council could not defend students adequately. In fact, when a teacher gave a detention or a student was suspended it was final. Nothing could be done. The Students' Council had little say in the matter.

I have seen instances where students were asked to remove themselves from the classroom and were told not to remain at the door but to find themselves elsewhere. Now, if we are to be realistic, nine times out of 10 these same students move on to become delinquents in our society, but it all started when the teachers chased them out of class and they lost interest in schoolwork and started to smoke and drink, perhaps graduating to a life of crimes.

Be proactive

I am convinced that our Jamaican society is slowly deteriorating because we are turning out criminals from high schools instead of young men and women with immeasurable potential. I am imploring the minister of education to look carefully at how students are treated in schools and to enact a policy that those who are considered 'disruptive' be placed in a separate class so they don't miss out on schoolwork.

If we are to save our society we must be proactive and have a sense of urgency. I was once considered a problem child and now I am a scholarship awardee at a prominent high school with seven credits and one distinction at the CXC/CSEC level and a credit at the CAPE level, all gained in fifth form. Let us save our students from illegal activities. Let us save Jamaica.

I am, etc.,

RONEIL WILLIAMSON

roneilwilliamson@hotmail.com