Why is my child not allowed to graduate?
Submitted by Anonymous on Sun, 06/06/2010 - 21:04
As a parent I am not advocating that sanctions should be a taken if a child misbehaves in school and I do believe in letting a child know when he/she is wrong. However as a parent I have an issue when it appears that my child along with others from a particular family or socioeconomic demographic are targeted or discriminated against.
It is interesting to know that certain organizations who uphold discipline and protocol have the capacity to manage and work with my child but the educational system appears to fail him. If my child was such a terror why was he identified as a leader and conducted himself in such a manner within Youth Parliament, if my child was such a terror why was he able to conduct lesson for his peers at the Cadet Corps. I am aware that the Cayman Islands Cadet Corps offered to provide assistance to the school when managing children with disciplinary issues, as they have personnel with such expertise, however their offer was ignored by the previous principal. Instead we have police officers who use a form of control that is not best suited for our students. Security if needed in the school I agree, but more so the school needs people within the system who can facilitate learning in the classroom and help the teachers.
The education system is suppose to improve on the strengths of children not look for every opportunity to label them and exclude them. If my child was so problematic, the system should have devised a way to work on his weakness, improve his strengths and assist me as a parent with making better decisions.
My child is not being allowed to graduate along with another 64 students. This is a very high number of ineligible students, what has gone wrong. In addition to not being able to graduate, the school, or one particular teacher has made it her point to insure that certain persons cannot attend prom. The school manages what happens for graduation, but it has now overstepped its boundaries. Can the school dictate who one carries as a date?
Children are not perfect, nor or the parents and on many occasions we need assistance, however there are certain facets of the educational fraternity who continue to target particular students and families. This must be addressed. One person complaining is one thing, but over 20 persons, who are unrelated with no connection who have the same complaint, I would suggest than investigation is due.
Sherryann Smith
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Did they fail? I don't want
Did they fail?
I don't want to be too sharp about this, but why didn't your child graduate?
Was the report card covered in failing grades? You started the debate, now you should answer the "Why?" of the posting. If they failed their courses, don't they have to do the year over again to graduate?
Or is it that in Cayman you can graduate even if you fail your courses, as I have heard somewhere?
On an Island where illiteracy is rampant, holding graduates to a high standard is important.
CNS: You might want to read this: Teaching and Learning
Apparently your child did not
Apparently your child did not meet the requirments to graduate when the other students did. Why should your child be allowed to attend something they didnt work for when others did? I would worry less about prom and request your child's transcript and see ALL the reasons why he/she didn't graduate. When I went to school they were rules and regulations and if they were not meet I would get a swift talking from my mother and sometimes wipped to think I had a choice in attending school. I am happy to see that they are not letting fools graduate. I, for one will hire qualified expats to fill all my positions before I hire a stupid Caymanian...and yes i am a Caymanian
I say it is quite
I say it is quite unfortunate. But it also makes no sense to try and change this now that you have found out your son is not graduating.
I left high school in 2003, I was a CXC student and passed almost all my exams but I was not allowed to go to 'graduation' because I had a tremendous number of absences, for no reasons I might add, it bothered my mom more than it bothered me, but she was the one who allowed me to have my way whenever I decided I did not feel like attending school on whatever day (and a 15/16 yr old should not be making such decisions). Luckily I have matured and now have my own daughters who I make certain to send to school every single day that they are able.
Anyway, I believe that there are many parents out there trying their best with raising their children, but there is more to raising a child than just providing the necessities of life for them and these days with so many one parent families and all parents and/or guardians working, children are raising themselves and missing essential lessons in life that can only be taught by parents. Schools and teachers are not here to discipline our children, discipline and manners need to be instilled at home and a well disciplined, respectful chiild will in turn be much easier to teach and more capable of learning.
The system didn't fail your
The system didn't fail your chile. You failed your child. You are making exuses that he or she didn't get a free ride same as you child has exuces of not doing what was asked of them. The will grow up making exuces their whole life and go no where. When they have kids they will sound just like you.
There are two underlying
There are two underlying problems here.
1) No one seems to know what they're talking about, e.g., what the graduation &/or prom requirements actually are, much less what certain students did to fall foul of those requirements.
2) The country doesn't have the 'personality re-education facilities' in place that many seem to feel are necessary to fix these 'fouled' students.
So, until someone can either (1) cite what the problems actually are or (2) identify where the gobs of money are going to come from to spend on the 20% of students who didn't graduate (hopefully not from the money spent to educate the 80% that did) you're all just talking around the issues and accomplishing nothing except going mad.
Just of of curiosity, how
Just of of curiosity, how many of them got to "graduate" in the end and how many were simply given their school leavers certificate outside of the "graduation" ceremony?
Forgetting about the Prom and
Forgetting about the Prom and behaviour just for a moment, did your child achieve any academic qualifications in his/her final year? Just interested to know.
Don't be silly. This is
Don't be silly. This is Cayman. One "graduates" just for watching the clock tick on the wall at school and not behaving badly. Which makes this whole complaint irrelevant anyway since no employer should cares about mere high school "graduation" anyway. So it all boils down to the prom.
If you allow anyone to
If you allow anyone to graduate then the whole process fails, no employer will ever give credit for graduating, its not a great qualification to hold but at least it gives a base for assessing someone.
I don't know what the education situation is but can't they re-do the last year knowing the consequences of failing? Parents knowing the standards required? If the kids really are no hopers then they won't turn up for day one of the next year, if the parents and kids are serious then a second chance shouldn't be too dificult...I know everyone should have taken it seriously but as they haven't...
As to the prom, well sorry thats just a joke, make it part of graduating and if thats the only thing that motivates someone to achieve a basic education use it.
Why is my child not allowed to graduate?!
Well i for one think it is not needed to stop a child from graduating,reguardless to his or her behaviour! I believe that a school should be there to help a child, and encourage them to do their best not exclude them from the other children and the activities being held, especially a school leaving ceremony, all because they have a behaviour problem. Do you guys ever stop and think what may be going on in this child's life to cause such behaviour ? Noo i dont think so, but i have a question what exactly is a school suppose to do ? Is it not suppose to help and encourage children? or is it there for parents to send their children,so you guys could critisize them and then send them back home, and at the end of the day, be told they cant graudate for behaviour,this makes students dont even want to attend school,because it just end up being the same thing everyday. You want children to behave in school, how about giving them something to do!? I meann at lunch time there is a wholee hour of doing what?! Their young people their expected to do things to entertain themselves, and ofcourse our entertainment may not be like ours, but bare with it! You want to make cayman a better place?! How about starting in the schools?! How about bonding with the children, its not only about teaching them and leaving,i believe teachers should have a relationship with every student they teach, where a student can feel comfortable attending school, maybe just maybe this 'behaviour problem' might be put to a pause, If i child see a teacher cares for them, and dosent only want to suspend them get there money and done, then im sure they wont give trouble. Anywho to make this short! You want to make cayman i better place? well please take my advice and start bonding with the young people; get to know them more, instead of assuming their no good. Allow them to GRADUATE! orr allow them to mess up cayman,your choice :) . after school what will occupy their time because of no evidence of graduation? CAN YOU JUST GUESS?! haha..sad storyy nah tru *spoken by a real caymanain* anyway i hope i got my point across!
Minister Anglin, from someone
Minister Anglin, from someone who has been involved in the Education system in the Cayman Islands either directly or indirectly for the last 25 years, I beg of you to stay out of this and do not attempt to intervene to allow these children to "graduate".
A big part of the problem to begin with is the insistence of placing so much emphasis on what essentially is only a school leaving ceremony anyway.
Thousands of young people are walking our streets with High School Diplomas that they did not earn and should not have thanks to a system which has continually pandered to the misguided wants of unfit parents and I implore you to put an end to this nonsense now.
One day you will be thanked.
GED
Don't know all the details... don't really want to... but my suggestion is that those not graduating should try to put on a brave face, cut their losses, and seriously consider getting their GED. It sounds like the decision has already been made, and based on the mixed reception here, it is doubtful that some sort of public uproar will occur to change the school's decision.
Of course, this is easy to say when you're not in the situation, and when you're not 16/17..... but I can tell you I know quite a few people who did not finish high school for one reason or another, chose to get their GED & now have full-time jobs. So you see, they are not 'doomed' to sell drugs or beg on the street as somebody insinuated in an earlier post.
WOW 64 children not being
WOW 64 children not being able to graduate! Somethings is drastically wrong there!!!
So "tough" what are you going to say when some of them turn up on the streets selling drugs because they can't get jobs or start robbing stores & tourist?
Dont be so quick to condemn one, it may fall on your offspring or your offsprings children. Will you be the same Mr. or Ms. "Tough" then?
Something needs to be done about this because it is not right. Trust me Cayman you are bound to have more trouble coming on your hands. At least offer these kids to stay back on extra year or go into a special eds class and offer them a second chance to have a graduation.
Well then YOU hire ,train,
Well then YOU hire ,train, and take responsibility for them Betsy! Last time I checked kids are the responsibility of their parents and when parents are not responsible than the kids suffer the consequences. That's life for all of us like it or not. No surprise to me that so many of Caymans kids are not eligible for graduation seeing how many of the parents were not eligible to have kids. Yes if your a bad parent and have bad kids it is your fault and your problem not everyone else's. deal with it.
wow such anger and hate! Do
wow such anger and hate! Do you have a personal problem with this particular mother or child? I myself would not mind to offer assistance towards assisting these kids to a brighter future. Some of us do think about others. I am wondering why it's a sticky situation for the Education Dept. I mean after all last time I looked on the website for the Ministry of Education, TRAINING and Employment it was said in their About Us section word for word that "It's about building brighter futures for the people of the Cayman Islands." and it was also said "With our subject areas of Education, Training, Employment, Youth, Sports & Culture, we boast the largest portfolio within the Cayman Islands Government and its all about the development of people. That is why we are regularly referred to as 'the People's Ministry". And as you read a little further down "We seek to equip young people, students and workers to compete on the international stage, and strongly believe that this is the key to the future prosperity of our nation as it plays an increasingly important role in an ever-changing world."
I am just wondering as to why when situations arise you typical crab barrel lifestyle bunch always get personal and the government eats their words.
Tsk. Tsk. Love thy neighbor as thyself but what goes around comes around and just like you withhold to help these kids so shall fall on yours I am sure. Karma comes for everyone.
Wow! I think you mean so
Wow! I think you mean so much common sense and respect . You are correct in "boasting" about what the website says but those who do not follow the rules of "the peoples ministry" should not get away with demanding the rewards of compliance. Pathetic try at making yourself "seem" respectful of the rights of others. I love my neighbor but will NOT put up with disrespectful and antisocial people and their kids.
But you can. Go ahead. Be my guest. Bask in the love you give.
Your child should have been
Your child should have been better behaved. Actions have consequences. Maybe this will help your child learn that lesson. I doubt it though.
OPEN LETTER TO THE MINISTER
OPEN LETTER TO THE MINISTER OF EDUCATION MR. ROLSTON ANGLIN
I am shocked that you the MINISTER FOR EDUCATION HAS NOT EVEN shown any regard for these children the parents and the community.
Mr. ROLSTON ANGLIN ! we are waiting for you to act like the Minister responsible for Education ad speak to the public please about what you are going to do about this situation!. This is an indication that we are definitely going backwards and ot forward, what are your plans to stop this and to fix the immediate problem and allow these children to graduate but find some other form of punishment. Maybe they can clean up some public areas but certainly not stop them from graduation, that's dictatorship and socialistic.
You must deal with this school in question.
Yes minister, persons from a
Yes minister, persons from a certain socioeconomic demographic that are being discriminated against have already booked limousines and rooms at the Ritz for that night so you need to move quickly. lol.
Mr. Rolston Anglin, children
Mr. Rolston Anglin, children have a very special place in my heart, what about you? If they misbehave, we use one of many different forms of discipline correct them. NOT DISGRACE THEM WITH DENYING THEM THEIR CONSITUTIONAL RIGHT TO GRADUATE AND ATTEND THEIR PROM! This can have devastating social and psychological affects on these young people, whose life and future we value as though they were our very own..
As far as the prom and graduation is concerned, like anywhere else in the world, the Police presence is always strong where ever young teenagers are gathered for a celebration,, dance, party, meeting, whatever, so let these 65 students graduate, attend their prom and beef up the RCIP Security to make sure everything goes well, and all students are kept safe, the good, the bad, and the indifferent..
As you may be aware, they are the future of the Cayman Islands, how we respond to them in a crisis of this nature can determine whether we are a part of the problem or a part of the solution.
I am shocked that as Minister of Education you have not met the Cayman Islands voting constituients on this most important issue. We need to know just what strategy you as Minister of this portfolio will use to correct this problem. We can not allow it to go down in History that 65 children are not being allowed to graduate nor attend their prom. That is socialistic, and third world ! If there is a specific reason within the boundaries of safety and security, and these 64 children/students have a history and are a dangerous threat to the community, or to the well being of others attending graduation exercises, then we understand. But to totally ignore the issue is UNACCEPTABLE.
For you To choose to smoke the issue with a press release on this morning regarding a less important topic such as construction and Regulatory measures needed for school building projects, and previous government's failure,is nothing short of a poor excuse for not acting responsible in this particular situation at hand.
Just remember 64 children are connected to a very huge voting block, how you handle this situation could very well determine your re-election.
Believe me, not being able to
Believe me, not being able to graduate or attend prom is the least of a young persons worries after commencing High School.
Welcome to real life, where not being able to attend certain functions will come after getting a job, paying bills, having debts etc etc etc.
It is not a constitutional
It is not a constitutional right to graduate or attend prom.
They have the right ( qualified not absolute by the way) to an education. The law requires a child to attend school until the age of 16, that is all. What they do or do not do until the age of 18 is then the choice of their parents. After 18 it becomes their choice entirely.
Graduation is a ceremony, and as such is the end result of fulfilling your puliage in a certain manner.
Prom has nothing to do with education and is only a school sanctioned social event.
So there are perks written
So there are perks written into the Constitution for everyone then:
1. Premier gets to remodel his home and have $5K worth of Xmas lights
2. School kids get to graduate regardless of grades/behavior and they get a prom
Graduation, the prom, athletics, and anything else that is a "school" based activity is governed by school regulations and there must be compliance for participation. It is extremely common to make a student ineligible to play a sport due to grades, not attend Prom due to behavior or even suitable attire for the event. It is even possible to have a student expelled from the institution to protect the privilege of education for the other students.
MR. ANGLIN YOU CAN'T MISS
MR. ANGLIN YOU CAN'T MISS THIS ONE.
That lady is right, You are putting your political position in great jeopardy if you don't fix this graduation problem.
Let me take out my adding machine:
65 children connected to at least 50 people in each family
65 children connected to 500 friends and associates
65X 54 = 3,500
65 x 500 = 32,500
Total 36,000,
Mr. Anglin you are disrupting the whole voter registry, PLUS MORE THAN HALF OF THE POPULATION OF THE CAYMAN ISLANDS, Your SILENCE IS actually screwing the UDP into the ground please do something these people will be waiting on you and the UDP next election round. The students are not just students these are these people children 'THEIR BABIES!" you seem to miss that!
Remember you can mess with Caymanians but DON'T MESS WITH THEIR CHILDREN!
Wow! Seriously? Threating
Wow! Seriously?
Threating an elected official and then trying to bribe them with votes. Isn't this against the law?
Readers, please know that this does not represent the majority of educated, well informed Caymanians.
Let's progress as a people Cayman. Let's act with integrity and lets's disciple our children so they act with respect. Let's make the world envy us like they used to.
Yes mister Anglin, Graduate
Yes mister Anglin,
Graduate my illiterate and antisocial children and take responsibility for them or else MORE THAN HALF OF THE POPULATION OF THE CAYMAN ISLANDS WILL CONTINUE TO SHOW THE OTHER HALF DISRESPECT (AND STILL GET PAID FOR IT)
Admittedly, I haven't read
Admittedly, I haven't read the entire constitution. But I doubt that proms are mentioned.
AdmitTedely you have the
AdmitTedely you have the freedom to walk the streets at night. Is that spelled out in the constitution ?No. But it does provide you as a free citizen free movement and freedom of assembly.
The child's rght to an education does not have to spell out every word and dot every T. ( The provisions are understood). GRADUATION IS THE REWARD OR THE LAST COMPONENT PART OF A HIGH SCHOOL OR COLLEGE EDUCATION! Are yOu so naive that we have to have a debate over this for you to understand? Good grief!
You just don't get it do
You just don't get it do you?
Hmmm. We do not dot 'T's in
Hmmm. We do not dot 'T's in the English language. Its a good thing your "constitutional right" allowed you to graduate.
When I was a child we had to respect our teachers and call them "Maam" and "Sir". If we misbehaved, we got the switch, or the belt, on our backsides. Alll the kids I grew up with, knew respect and because of that they are all doing well in life.
These kids today have no respect for their elders. I say if your behaviour is bad, you should be punished. If you do bad things are do not get punished, what is to stop you from carrying on as you get older in life? What will stop you from robbing people and shooting people like we are seeing with many current 18 - 24 yr olds.
Discipline in schools is a very good thing. Bring back the switch!
Once you cross you "eyes"
Once you cross you "eyes" there is nothing left to dot but your "tees".
Thankfully I was educated in
Thankfully I was educated in England which, at that time at least, refused to adopt such American concepts as "high school graduation" or "proms". I just studied hard, passed my exams and left school.
I think there are are few
I think there are are few point being highlight in this discussion:
1. Students who misbehave in school or break the rules must have consequence and parents must play their part. All seem to agree.
2. If a student in school misbehaves so much so that they are not eligible to graduate, where along the line did the school devise an intervention to address the situation. This is a ticklish issue, many will argue that parents must bear most of the responsibility, however the reality is that the education system must also accept some responsibility. I have two well behaved children but should they become unruly I would hope the school they attend will work with me to correct the issue. In many cases (for the young inexperienced 19yr old graduate) many times the effort made to help a student does have a lot to do with socioeconomic backgrounds. It may not be a reality we want to admit in the Cayman Islands but that is the case. Also the fact is that some students are targeted. That may not be the experience of the majority but it happens. It appear from the writer of the letter that one particular teacher is targeting certain children. If this is true something should be done.
3. If for whatever reason a child is not eligible to graduate base on his or her own demise so be it, but can or should that person be barred from attending prom as an invited guest/date of another student? The student should be able to attend with a date and should they disrupt the function they should be escorted out immediately
4. 20% of any graduating class not being able to graduate is an alarming number, even if parents are not doing their job, this issue still should be investigated.
On another note, unless we are one of the 65 children or their parents we do not know the circumstance behind the decisions made. I am sure that some children truly do not deserve to graduate and some decisions could be questionable.
Moral of the story, parents need to become better parents and the education system need to devise a way to include all students.
I too agree with this
I too agree with this response!
Yes parents it is time that we take FULL responsibility of the situation and bear the embarrassment. It is harsh but we have to stand firm and show tough love. Should this had been happening all along that child would have realized before it was too late that he/she was causing pain to their parents and what the final results could have been. When a child enters into a school in Grand Cayman, from elementary, a school hand book with the policies and procedures and espectations of your child that should be adhere to, including disciplinary measures, is given to the parents and it is your responsibility to ensure that these are all met. In fact there are schools if not all, require you to sign this book stating that your child will adhere to it's contents.Therefore you have just accepted the responsility of your child's misbehaviour, poor attitude, bad performance etc...that will take place during his/her tenure at the school.
Regarding the prom. I have learnt that the Management of the Ritz carlton has extended the facility this year for FREE to host the JGHS Prom, with stipuations and that includes that there be no disruptions by individuals. Now if this child have a reputation to causing such disruptions then in this case "prevention is better than cure"!
Yes I do agree that this is a serious matter that the Ministry of Education and the Education Department should look into, not the fact that 65 students are not graduating but rather why are they not graduating? What caused these children not to meet the requirments set forth for graduation? What corrective or preventative actions are in place or have now been put in place to help resolve situations as such?
Again I have been made to understand that a certain amount of suspended days during the school years play a major role in the decision making regarding a child graduating. This I am certainly not in favor of. Suspension? What does one learn from been sent home to watch tv, sleep, roam the streets due to a situation that has occured in school? May I say to the Minister of Education and the Education Department, yes we the parents are responsible for our children but when there is such a situation that has occurred in school that a decision is made to send a child home for days this is wrong! Parents need to be called in and with the help of those individuals that are specially trained and employed to deal with such matters in the school we need to work together to help resolve the problem of this child and the child need to face and accept responsibilty for his/her actions and know that he/she will be punished but it will be done so within the school. There should be a facility within the school that these children are kept to face their punishment. Not their bedrooms, the streets and other people homes! To them this is not punishment.
In regards to parents "when are you going to get IT"! OUR CHILDREN are OUR RESPONSIBILITY! When we were making them the Police Department, Government, Education Minister, CEO, Teachers, Pastors, friends and family played no role in this decision! It was mommy and daddy therefore it is mommy and daddy responsibility to raise (discipline) and care for their child/ren in everyway possible until they reach the responsible age. What is that age? In my opinion until death! Yes we may not be able to physically discipline them when they reach a particular age but we can certainly continue and never stop, weither they like it or not, to always offer them love, words of advice, guidance and even in some cases financial help and home caring. May I also say to you OUR CHILDREN are not indebited to us. They did not contact us and ask to be brought into this world. We are very blessed to have them in our lives. We just need to know how to deal with parenting.
One way we can all start let's get involve and I mean really involved in your childrens lives especially during their school years. I am not talking kindergarden, elementary when they all look so cute and sound so beautiful on the stage acting in a play, singing a song, reciting a poem. I am talking show that same interest and get involve right up to graduation day from university, when they are receiving their BIG degrees. Show interest, be supportive to the school and it's leaders and teachers. GET INVOLVE! I challenge you parents. Remember " our children today are the future for tomorrow"!
My question is to all parents "how well do you really know your child/ren"? This is something for us to all think about.
64 Children not Allowed to Graduate
As a past student of John Gray High School, I am both alarmed and disgusted by the comments on this topic. As was mentioned, the school sets rules that are to be followed in order to graduate and students are made aware of these upon entry. These rules apply all students, regardless of color or creed. Your accusatoins regarding the prejudices against these students are merely your sorrowful excuse for your children's, and by extension, your own shortcomings.
Of course it would be great if we all could be forgiven of the wrongs we had committed, but we all know that this is not possible. If this miraculous act of kindness was allowed, there would be no need for the Prison everyone has been discussing. If your child has not met the requirements for graduation, whether it be 2 or 700 of them, they should suffer the consequences.
If you all are such great parents, why wait until now to address this issue? Don’t you think it’s a bit too late to solicit the help of the Minister and Governor? You are asking them to do the exact opposite of what regulatory bodies and persons such as themselves are mandated to do - establish rules and ensure they are followed.
I understand that this issue hits close to home for those of you who have children that have somehow found themselves among the 65 unfortunates. However, justice and equality should be upheld regardless of your association to the accused.
XXXXX
Be reminded of this - the education system is not responsible for raising your kids. It is time that parents take the reins. It is up to you to make an intervention in your kids’ lives before the situation escalates to this level. You are only concerned now because it looks bad for your kid to not graduate. Too late my friends! Snuggle in bed and watch the rest of the law-abiding children graduate instead of wasting your time publicly embarrassing yourselves and your children.
Set aside the graduation and
Set aside the graduation and prom issues for the moment and ask yourself if your child is prepared to join the workforce and become a useful member of society?
Is your child numerate, and can read and write at a level that would make a bank want to hire him as a teller?
Does your child dress in a manner would be proud of him as their representative, or does he prefer to wear a dazzling display of jewelry in front and expose his underwear in the rear?
The role of the education system is NOT to assist you as a parent with making better decisions. The have a responsibility to educate the masses, and anyone that disrupts them from doing their duty needs to be removed so that they can get on with their work.
I am sure your child was made aware of the requirements for graduation. He failed to meet those requirements and now you want the rules to be changed for him.
I would suggest that you take your son and the other 64 persons who are not allowed to participate in the graduation on a tour of Her Majesty's Prison at Northward, as there is a high probability that those who think that rules do not apply to them are will eventually pass through there.
set aside the graduation and
Persons like you who readily label students presumably "soon to be fit for her Majesty's Prison" is excaty what breads contempt for certain facets of our society.
Not being eligilbe for graduation is not a good indicator that a child is heading for prison, but it is a good indicator that our education system is failing. YES it is a role of the education system to EDUCATE (assist) parents in makign better decisons, hence Parent - Teacher Associations. The Dept. of Educational services certainly think the educations system should play a role hence they support parenting workshops offered by various schools within the Government system.
Rules must be observed I agree and there must be consequences, however in the same manner in which expectations of students exists, there should be standard expectations for teachers. How do the speak to children, how do they communicate with parents, how do they manage classrooms, how quickly do they label children who come from a certain socioeconomic background. Are they up-to-date with teaching strategies for an inclusive school management or do we still go with the old method. Remove the child and the problem is solved?
The parents and school need to work together to find a more inclusive resolution rather than an exclusive one. Removing the child from school further isolates the child and school, this also perpetuates any learning difficulties a child may have. many of those not eligilabel to graduate are due to the fact that they were absent from school because of many days of suspensions, but yet we bring them in to do exams. We are setting them up to fail. Unless we find a resolution for many of the root causes of behavioural issues within the education system, we will continue to churn out children fit for "Her Majesty's Prison" as you stated, even from among those who are eligible to graduate.
The school system have a
It is a damning indictment of
It is a damning indictment of the state of Cayman when attendance at the ghastly American institution of "the prom" figures so highly on this post.
How is a dance where two kids
How is a dance where two kids get to go on a chaperoned date a "Ghastly American institution."
Me thinks you are bitter cause you never got invited to one!
The issue is not about prom,
The issue is not about prom, at least I hope not, the issue is about the fact that the disciplinary policies, within the school is failing too many of our children. 65 children not eligible to graduate is approximately 20% of the year 12 group. This cannot be acceptable for such a small island.
Discipline must occur but interventions must take place to avoid such circumstances. I believe that this gap in our system is now being addressed by the Ministry of Education, however it will take time.
discipline
why claim the discipline policy is failing because this inordinate amount of students have been prohibited from graduating? It is clearly a perceived reward for good behaviour, acceptable effort and being a willing member of the school community. Surely banning students who flaunt rules and disrupt the classroom is a discipline policy that is succeeding? Now, perhaps, more children will take the rules seriously and if a prom and graduation are something they want, then they will work for it! I would also like to know what parents would suggest works to encourage disobedient children to conform if caning kids is against the law and rightly so, and suspensions are something they might enjoy (ie, no school)? I do think all students and all parents and all teachers need to find discipline measures that work. Clearly not allowing them to graduate is very successful! Many parents and students want this happen - so 80% of the parents and students must be very happy!
No one really knows the
No one really knows the depth of truth concerning what really what happened with these students that will not be graduation. This is a very sad day for our country, and we as parents whether they are our children or not, we should get involved. I am sure that the students, the school Principal and teachers concerned are the only ones that really do know what really happened. Whether the school is a Christian School or a Public School they are both regulated, or should be regulated by Government.
This is the end of school year, I again remind the Cayman Immigration Board and its Investigative team led by Ms Sheri Bodden-Cowan to consider our children who need employment. some of them are on their way to college and need to work temporarily to save pocket monies for college or help their families. This can not happen if you are getting ready to grant multiple work permits during the summer months. I remind Ms. Cowan herewith of the 'MORATORIUM ON WORK PERMITS" for imported labor, during the SUMMER Months as we need to keep our children employed and OFF THE STREETS, we have no one to blame but you if you stand in their way of gainful employment by granting work permits for jobs these students can perform. Not all positions need a rocket scientist or work experience. So there's no excuse for our children suffering and underprivileged..
Ms. Sherry Ann Smith reporting that her child is not graduating because of some specific reason unknown to us needs to be investigated and action taken immediately, to allow time for graduation..
HOWEVER 64 other children not graduating is no small number and no small matter, this could not very well be a disciplinary measure, XXXXXX! There are other very effective ways to punish children when they need discipline without interfering with the social and educational structure provided to them, especially their privilege to proudly graduate from the school of their choice!
As a Caymanianian I am standing up for these children and I say NO! We can not have this take place in our society. 64 children underprivileged to experiencing their dream walking down the isle to receive their diploma and attend their graduation prom, is outrageous! Did 64 children commit a serious felony ?! XXXXXX
Mr. Rolston Anglin, XXXXX if the UDP has absolutely nothing to do with this I am on behalf of these children, the future of tomorrow, requesting your service as the mInister for Education, to immediately intervene and "Take This Bull By The Horns, and Run with it to help these children. Find out What happened, get involved, XXXXXXX 64 children ineligible for graduation is very suspicious ! I don't buy it, there's more to it. 64 Kids misbehaving in one school could not very well be all that bad. If they are that bad then why are they not in Jail? There's more to it. XXXXXX
I await your response Mr. Anglin and your immediate action today in resolving this matter MAKING SURE THAT these children are forgiven for whatever wrong they did and MAKE SURE our children graduate every one of them in 2010 I won't have it any other way!
Mr. Anglin if you have to change the graduation date to accommodate them, then so be it, but these kids MUST GET JUSTICE they're not criminals, they are children, the bible says " Foolishness is in the heart of a child but the rod of correction will drive it far from them." Graduation has nothing to do with discipline. It is their right to be able to graduate. No one has tha authority to take that right from them. Its ruining our society and creating crime in our society.
Governor Taylor, you can not turn a blind eye to a matter as serious as this one you too are in a position to help these poor helpless XXXXX kids ,and we request that you urgently and quickly get involved, with the Education Minister and the Premier to correct this.
If Dwayne and Mark can remain in the house, then I serve notice on the Cayman Islands Government today that 'THESE 64 STUDENTS can GRADUATE!
So your telling me (and the
So your telling me (and the rest of the world) That if you had a business to run you would rather hire illiterate, dysfunctional workers over trained, experienced, and tried and true hard workers just because they are Caymanian kids? Good luck with your business! Your going to need it to be successful. Cayman Government is doing the same thing and look how great that is working (pardon the pun). I know the non achievers of society must be put somewhere but why put them at the top? Because they are Caymanian? That explains why everything Government touches becomes a welfare system of some sort that is dysfunctional and cost a lot of money to run. I applaud your sense of loyalty to your people but like your leadership it is at the cost of society.
Some of these children need
Some of these children need to learn a lesson, a lesson which should have started in the home. Graduation is a award, an award for hard work, effort discipline and determination. If these children and their parents have not done their part then NOT graduating is their punishment, so be it! A lesson should be learned.
Changing the graduation date so that these 64 can graduate is absurd, they should have been obeying school rules, studying and participating accordingly. Not to mention their parents, who should have been constantly monitoring them and requesting help if neccessary. Waiting until a few weeks before graduation is hardly the time to expect miracles from the student, teachers or the public.
You mentioned Dwayne and Mark, I don't know anything about Dwayne's education but on the other hand I can tell you Mark is well educated and he didnt have a problem graduating from Primary School, High School or University, it took hard work, discipline, determination and parental guidance but he did it!
CNS would you please
CNS would you please explain to me and the readers why you have xxxx to substitute the legitimate words I used in my letter? It gives a reader the impression that there may have been fowl language used but the words I used were morally acceptable, clean language, direct to the point and focusing on the issue. This I consider strange behavior coming from CNS.
XXXXX
CNS: I have deleted the same words again in this comment - sorry Ms Florence - and to explain in the forum would defeat the point. I can assure the readers though that the reason was not because of the use of foul language.
Why is my child not allowed to graduate
While children must be disciplined because there are good and bad students, there are good and bad teachers also. Just like the students who have consequencies to pay, teachers who overstep their boundaries should also be dealt with. If it is a partnership, it must be seen that parents get support from school
Over 65 students not being able to graduate means that our education system has failed us big time. Is this same issue in the private schools?
prom is for the students, not about the adults and the school should not be able to dictate who people want to carry as a date.
It's time the Government makes use of the Cadet Corps, they seem to be willing and qualified.
XXXXXXX
This is very true, as a mother, a caymanian she needs help!
This is wrong for a school to not only judge a child by he/she mistakes but to kick them out or not be able to gain help he/she needs. The government of the cayman islands should really see that yes every child has a problem at one point but to let them be out cast and treated unfair just because of one mistake is wrong.As a student I totally agree with this mother as she has seen what has happen during school hours to some of my classmates.It is wrong to be told that you are not able to graduate or even attend prom knowing that you grades are up to dates and you aim for better.It is not right on the school to judge this child on one big mistake as he has learn his lesson understanding that if he is not able to graduate because of his grade is okay but not allowed to attend prom is a big issue, prom should be allowed for all classmates of that year no matter the grade or problems before. we as classmates wonder why is this one child targeted it gives us to wonder because how this sound in the school eyes he is a criminal judging a child and showing them he/she cannot achieve any better turns he/she into a criminal by right of the system they should help this mother with her child to make he/she a better citizen to the cayman islands now knowing that he isn't allowed to not even attend with his classmates to prom or even graduation is saying to him that he never try not once to gain help from the school.As his classmate and cayman citizen i think it is wrong on the government and school behalf to judge this child because as they was once a child and had gotten in to problem but was given a chance so why not allow this child to graduate i say if his effort is good and he has achieve that grade average he should be allowed to attend prom and graduation as a student who have made mistake but strive to do better in life.
God Loves the Children
Today's Truth
Jeremiah 20:11 (NIV) "For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."
Rolston do you have plans for
Rolston do you have plans for these children to prosper or to harm them? If Not, Respond!
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