"I was a troublemaker, I loved to fight and if you can't defend yourself I would pick on you and make others laugh," explained 18-year-old Ricardo Logan, as he recalled his early years at a high school in Kingston.

The teen revealed that between classes he would idle around the school compound and prey on others. He frequently disturbed the classes he attended and gave the teachers 'tough talk' whenever they said anything about his behaviour.

Logan's description of himself changed after he became part of the Restorative Programme at Kingsway High School.

"My life changed completely," he said. "I started to work with children with the same challenges as me and say to them that they can do better."

The change was epitomised by the award of the sergeant-at-arms at school, a position that required him to maintain discipline among his fellow students, and one that he held dearly until he graduated on July 5.

Ricardo said during his last days at Kingsway he buckled down to some serious studying as he sat nine subjects at the Caribbean Examinations Council level, and was looking for positive results in all of them.

Logan is happy for the second chance which was provided by staff members at the school, who had the common goal of creating better students.

Wholesome individuals

"We try to develop wholesome individuals, and we try as best as possible to encourage them to keep their family together because today most of the people who are giving trouble are from broken homes," explained Harold Blake, the dean of discipline at Kingsway and head of the programme.

Blake said the programme, which has its home in Golden Spring, was created to try another approach to impacting the lives of disobedient students.

"I realised that there were some students who were not complying with the school rules, and speaking to them I realised that it was not only them, but the parents as well," he revealed.

The success of the programme is important to Blake, who said he makes provisions for those who cannot afford to pay the $1,000 fee.

This charge covers meals for the day, as well as the sessions that are held in counselling and activities like role playing.

"There are parents and children who hugged each other and cried," Blake said, speaking about the role-playing exercise and its impact on behaviour.

Blake and his team ensure that all goes well after the programme, with follow-up visits and conversations with the participants. So far, he said they had been going well.

The dean explained that the programme was a saving grace for some of the recent graduates, and he was looking forward to turning his attention to a second set.

kimesha.walters@gleanerjm.com