Hope remains while we are alarmed at the senseless shootings in Barbados. This type of problem is analogous to a flooded area. The obvious solution would be to: (i) first go upstream and turn off the faucet to stop the flow of water and then (ii) drain the area. However, we spent the past 30 years bailing water from one part of the flooded area to another – a proven failed method.
The two-part crime solution is similarly obvious: (i) stop cultivating new criminals and (ii) train those whom we have already cultivated in a legal trade. Part 1 of this 2-part series addresses cultivating criminals.
CRIMINALS’ SCHOOL.
We cultivate criminals at our secondary schools – where all our criminals attended. The school curriculum is designed for the 20% of students who happen to understand the taught material earlier than their peers. By third form, many of the 80% have: (i) learned helplessness, (ii) become aware that their role at school is to be a supporting cast to the 20% and (iii) stopped trying.
It is important to note that: (i) all our students (without mental impairments) can understand the same information, (ii) some students will understand the material earlier than others for diverse reasons and (iii) those who learnt the material earlier are neither brighter nor better than those who learnt it later.
PLODDING ALONG.
I happened to be among the 80%. Each year, I tended to finally understand the material taught during the summer holidays – after the final exams. My mother was so alarmed that she took me to Mr Wharton for lessons. After the first lesson, Mr Wharton told my mother not to worry about me because I was a plodder.
Mr Wharton explained that I would not get there with the lead pack but I would get there. Those words gave me much encouragement as I plodded against the consistent discouraging flow of low-test scores for most of my time at Combermere.
TEACH EVERYONE.
Rather than teach only to the level of the 20%, why not teach to the level of the 80% and the 20% will automatically understand? Why not teach conversational language first, so that all may understand, instead of conjugating verbs that only 20% may quickly grasp? Why not first teach music by-ear, so that all may understand, instead of music theory that only 20% may quickly grasp? Why not first teach applied science that all may understand, instead of theoretical aspects that only 20% may quickly grasp?
Once students are encouraged with their ability to understand the practical aspects of a subject, they are more likely to exercise the discipline required to study the more difficult theoretical aspects – to expand their knowledge. Despite this being well known, we continue to force much of the 80% down path of discouragement and low self-esteem – which is an ideal culture for cultivating criminals.
While some of the 20% may become criminals, Barbados’ prison reports confirm that the vast majority of our inmates did poorly at secondary school. Despite this being well known, we have not turned off the faucet, but busy ourselves with bailing water.
Grenville Phillips II is a Doctor of Engineering, Chartered Structural Engineer and President of Walbrent College. He can be reached at NextParty246@gmail.com
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