IN JAMAICA: School Lockouts Spark Debate.....The move by two Corporate Area high schools yesterday to lock out dozens of students who showed up late

Dozens of Camperdown High students
who showed up late for school were
 locked out of the compound yesterday.

The move by two Corporate Area high schools yesterday to lock out dozens of students who showed up late and were in breach of the dress code has drawn fresh attention to some of the punitive measures being used by school administrators to curb the escalating problems.

For nearly two hours, students from Camperdown and Dunoon Park Technical high schools who had lined up outside the east Kingston-based compounds were denied entry by school staff and security guards.

This approach, according to some school administrators, is just one of several forms of punishment meted out to students who are increasingly showing scant regard for punctuality or the way they are attired for learning.

Other punitive measures include suspension, detentions and the assigning of demerit points.

Ruel Reid, principal of Jamaica College, said that he has had to demonstrate tough love at the all-boy institution. He recalled the backlash he faced from angry parents who accused him of trying to deny their children of an education. read more...