Epic Facebook Rant: ASPS Principal calls out Parents of ESHS students
A Facebook rant of epic proportions came after she observed perceived public and inappropriate behaviours of Elmore Stout High School students during after school hours.
In the Facebook post, the popular principal wrote, “Parents of Elmore Stoutt High School you have to do better. Why are you allowing your children to roam the streets when school is dismissed at 12? I am so fed up of seeing this daily. Look at where YOUR children are,” she said referring to two photographs snapped from a distance of the high school students on the A. O. Shirley Recreational Ground.
“Girls in between the boys legs and another set gambling under the bleachers. You are responsible for your children when school is dismissed… You have to do better… What kind of society do we really have in this place??? I swear some of you all need going jail.” Principal Flax-Headley added.
Who is responsible?
The principal went on to say, “The government didn’t get these children you did. You have to put structures in place for your children, not the government… It seems like after primary school you all just throw them to the wolves. These kids ought not to be raising themselves,” ending the rant with angry emoji’s.
This sparked a lengthy debate with several finger pointing and suggestions for possible solutions with input from at least two legislators, Honourable Julian Fraser, RA (D3) who questioned similar behaviours in his district and Honourable Alvera Maduro-Caines (D6) who called it, “Not good at all.”
While Mrs Flax-Headley lumped the blame heavily on parents, others blamed the current two-shift system which has given rise to a number of challenges with High School students since its introduction. The two shift system came as a result of the September 2017 hurricanes that devastated the territory.
Supporting the post of the Principal, Ms Jasmine A. Brewley said, “Parents these days are the cause of everything their kids do. It's time they take responsibility for their children's behaviour. It's time they realise that they are raising a generation of monsters.”
One person El Tigere noted, “…and when they get before the judge, the parents coming to beg you to come court to testify that they are good children and give them a break.”
Not only in town
Trecia Mercedes Durrant highlighted that the same thing occurs through Lower Estate under “The Tree” she too whipped parents, “Parents need to see that their children are in a programme or taken home after their morning session… When they're all gone... I even see school shirts left around ...more pressure on them to wash or on the parents to buy another and another”.
As Mrs Flax-Headley acknowledged that, “Some on the basketball court in uniform from 12 until... I just shake my head.”
When Cee Elvira suggested that perhaps the start of this could have been better coordinated with the beginning of the school, Mrs Flax-Headley disagreed, “They don’t need no programme they need to go home. Where will all these children fit, if they all decide to go?? They can’t and they shouldn’t have to create any programme. You think these parents are interested in any programme? The children worse... These are big children they don’t need no babysitting.”
A silent cry for help?
When Cornwall Keshena joined the conversation he stated, “But teacher most of us at work”. Was that a silent cry for help which at its core may have appeared to go unheard?
Marieta Flax-Headley responded, “And that’s fine. What did you put in place for your child when school is dismissed? You can’t just let them roam the place like animals. You as the parent need to have a plan. How much longer they going to blame Irma. It’s been a year…”
Shelly Love continued the whipping of parents telling Cornwall Kasheena, “True but let your child know when school is out head straight home”.
Cornwall Kasheena continued, “You can’t even get a bus to pick up the kids only drop off… some of our jobs are not on the sincere side so you have to look at it all around, some of the parents haven’t even bounced back from this yet” She added. “Parents are trying their utmost in instances to keep roofs over heads and to be the provider… working with bosses who are not sympathetic nor give you any time,” with Evelyn Connor saying, “The STRUGGLE is real.”
Sakeda Badkitty Maduro said, “Sorry but I don’t see a struggle here cause if I could have listened to my parents so can others… but is too much friends… yes, I give and spoil my kids but they know my look and voice when I mean business”.
It takes a community
At its core, the conversation underscored the role of a community in raising the younger generation and the importance of conversations in bringing issues to the fore. One contributor said that as a past PTA leader, “I don’t see (IDC) if I don't know you, I'm the elder and you're the child and if I fail to speak to you I've failed as a mother and an elder.”
She further added, “Parents must find avenues to make it work… we as a society have to aid in raising them… many eyes are shut to many of these children”
The contributor closed by saying “I just pray we find a way and we can decrease this epidemic because about 7 years ago I've sat in a youth development meeting regarding extracurricular activities and uttered the same words (we are going to be raising monsters in a few years), it's a pity I read it in the comments but it's true if we on a whole don't help.”
28 Responses to “Epic Facebook Rant: ASPS Principal calls out Parents of ESHS students ”
Now the proper thing to do is to speak with the persons who utilize that facility or even the kids to find out what going on; but to just take a pic and assume and lash out at these kids and parents without first doing your homework Mrs Principal says a lot about you - and it ain’t saying nothing good.
So have you considered that the children in your picture are athletes waiting to commence training.
Have you considered that some of the children In your picture regularly play dominos to pass the the time until they start training - and are not gambling?
She chose the wrong picture to make her point.
Before you people give this rant any airtime you should do your own homework.
Another trouble maker looking trouble and trying to stay relevant.
As for the bigger kids - it should be mandated that you finish school and then you go to after school program- the parents are all working and the kids can get up to just as much trouble at home unsupervised. All these kids are being let down by the Govt for providing a crap system and parents who don’t demand better.
@Concerned, let me holla at you for a sec. Since you appear to be hood, I am going to talk to you hood. First of all, there are lots of activities I have set up in my home for my son to do. Where I live is non of your business.
The movie theatre upper floors, cutlass tower, . The younger children can stay where they are in the old CTL building, and the older children in the above mentioned ones. They can each have classes all day. Does anyone else have any suggestions that are very much needed at this time? I am very concerned about the children’s future.
As regard programs, this will help. This is what I was seeking for my child, but options were limited. If the option was there, some parents would take advantage of it. But I do see an effort being made as flyers were passed out this morning for parents to select afternoon programs.
Lastly, kudos should be given to those parents who have made arrangements to have their child or children off the streets after school, because a lot of parents taken their responsibility with their child or children very seriously and all should not be "lumped in the same basket".
Just my opinion. Casting BLAME won't solve the problem only positive and helpful guidance, structure and activities.
I work in the area and just seeing the kids hanging around Riteway doing nothing is concerning. They don't realize it's a business place at all.
But, if successive governments hadn’t looted the treasury to pay off their mates, we would have a properly built school with properly trained teaching staff occupying these kids until the end of the day and beyond.