The Tribune

“Stand firm, Bishop. You are a voice in the wilderness.”

This was one of the many comments posted on this newspaper’s website —www.tribune242.com – Tuesday on the announcement that Anglican Bishop Laish Boyd, standing firmly behind the decision of the Anglican Education Board, cancelled the Class of 2013’s graduation exercises. The prom was also cancelled.

In short, members of the class did not meet the behavioural standards expected of a graduate of an Anglican school. We are confident that there were students who did not participate in the childish pranks that brought the whole class down, but as we said in this column on Monday, the few will have to suffer with the many who did.

Today this society is in crisis. And this crisis starts in the home, moves to the school and eventually erupts onto society.

Too many – starting in the home – turn a blind eye to the shocking behaviour of some of our youth. They get away with their crass behaviour because their elders either think it cute, or themselves fail to set a good example.

A member of the public watching Channel 12’s coverage of the reaction of upset parents and children to Bishop Boyd’s decision commented that both parents and children “behaved as a disrespectful mob.” What an example to set your children, no wonder they do not know how to behave. The proper course of action would have been to have asked for an appointment with the Bishop, apologised for your child if he/she offended, and politely put a case to the Bishop as to why he should reconsider his decision. By doing so a parent would have demonstrated the calm good sense and courtesy that is so lacking in today’s society. Also the child would have seen the art of negotiation in action. As Winston Churchill once remarked: “To jaw-jaw is always better than to war-war.”

Almost everything today is settled by yelling, foul language, a show of the fist, the knife and finally the gun. What this seemingly small hiccup in the grand scheme of things shows is where society’s problems start – in the home. And that’s where Bahamians have to start — correcting the seemingly small things — before the violence on the streets can be brought under control. This is why Bishop Boyd’s decision is such a breath of fresh air amidst this social chaos. Someone has to stand up and stay: No, it stops here. Bishop Boyd must be congratulated and supported for doing just that.

So far, we have heard of no one — either parents or offending children of that graduating class — apologising for the unacceptable behaviour. A generation or two ago, young people would have been terrified to go home and report their misbehaviour in school for fear of being punished a second time by their parents.

But today, everything is in reverse. The “biggity” fashion now is that one or other parent marches to the school to either “cuss out” or “beat up” the teacher for having reprimanded their Johnny or Susie. The presence of the policeman in the school yard is as much for unruly children as for rowdy parents.

We recall the disgust of the late Vince Ferguson, a no-nonsense headmaster of a Catholic school. He said that there was a boy at the school who was so disruptive that he had to suspend him. Obviously the lad’s parents were politically well connected. The next day, said Mr Ferguson, he was standing in the schoolyard when Prime Minister Pindling’s chauffeur-driven car pulled up, the passenger door opened, and out stepped the suspended student. He swept past Mr Ferguson, a broad smile creasing his face, gave him a “high five” and boldly walked back to his classroom.

“You watch,” Mr Ferguson commented later, “that one’s going to end up before the courts!”

This is the “once upon a time” where it all began. It is from the cradle that they are led astray to the prison gates. And this is where the cure has to begin — in the home. We can no longer be soft on anti-social behaviour among young people, nor can we be soft on their crime as they get older.

We hope that others will take heart and follow the courageous lead of the good Bishop.

His decisive stand is the only solution to today’s problems.