WHEN SCHOOLS HUMILIATE CHILDREN, SOCIETY ULTIMATELY PAYS THE PRICE
- Yaawd Media
- 7 days ago
- 4 min read
A GRADUATION CEREMONY THAT LOST ITS PURPOSE
It is almost impossible to believe that a school serving children between the ages of six and twelve could make a decision such as this, yet the reports surrounding Ascot Primary School indicate that it happened. Students who were not deemed "proficient" in the Primary Exit Profile (PEP) examinations were reportedly denied the opportunity to wear graduation gowns and were excluded from marching alongside their classmates during the school's graduation ceremony.
The Ministry of Education has rightly condemned the reported actions, describing them as inappropriate, contrary to the principles of equity, inclusion, positive discipline, and inconsistent with the standards of care expected for children of this age. The Ministry is correct.
What occurred was beyond the pale. It should never have happened—not to 11- and 12-year-olds, nor to students at any age. Graduation ceremonies are intended to recognize the successful completion of a stage in a child's educational journey. They are celebrations of growth, perseverance, and hope for the future—not occasions for public ranking, exclusion, or humiliation.
A FAILURE OF EDUCATIONAL LEADERSHIP
If the reports are accurate, the decision reflects a profound failure of leadership and judgment. Denying children the opportunity to wear a graduation gown may seem symbolic to some adults, but to a child, it represents something much larger. It tells them, in front of their peers, parents, and community, that they are somehow less worthy of recognition. Such experiences can leave emotional scars that outlast the memory of an examination score.
Educational leadership is not simply about enforcing standards. It is about exercising wisdom, compassion, and understanding the developmental needs of children. School administrators are entrusted not only with improving academic performance but also with nurturing confidence, self-esteem, resilience, and hope.
The explanation reportedly offered by Principal Mark Jackson—that the decision followed discussions with parents and was never intended to humiliate students—does little to lessen its impact. Good intentions cannot erase harmful consequences. A poor decision remains a poor decision regardless of how it was reached.
To his credit, the principal has reportedly expressed regret after reflecting on the outcome. Acknowledging mistakes is important, but this incident should become a lesson for every educational institution across Jamaica.
THE MINISTRY MUST SHARE RESPONSIBILITY
The Ministry of Education, however, cannot simply distance itself from this incident as this situation raises an important question: How could such a decision even be contemplated?
Either there is no clear national policy governing graduation ceremonies and the treatment of students, or existing policies are inadequately communicated, poorly enforced, or viewed as optional by school administrators. Regardless of the situation, neither possibility is acceptable. The Ministry must establish clear, written national guidelines that prohibit discriminatory treatment of students during graduation ceremonies and ensure that every principal understands these standards are mandatory, not matters of personal discretion.
Education Minister Dr. Dana Morris Dixon was right when she stated that every child deserves to be treated with dignity and respect, regardless of examination outcomes. She also reminded the country that PEP pathways are intended to guide a child's future learning, not determine that child's worth or whether they deserve to celebrate completing primary school. That philosophy must now be be reflected consistently in practice across every school.
THE LESSON WE ARE TEACHING OUR CHILDREN
But this incident also forces us to confront a much deeper question: Should we really be surprised that some of our young people are becoming increasingly hardened, less empathetic, and less caring toward one another?
There is an old saying: Children live what they learn. But children learn far more from what adults do than from what adults say. When parents, educators, school boards, and institutions tolerate actions that publicly shame or stigmatize children, we normalize those behaviours. We teach youngsters that exclusion is acceptable, that academic performance determines a person's value, and that those who struggle deserve to be treated differently. That is a dangerous lesson. We often lament bullying in schools, violence in our communities, and a growing lack of empathy among our youth. Yet children are constantly observing the adults around them. They watch how authority is exercised. They see who is celebrated and who is excluded. They learn whether compassion is genuine or merely something spoken about in speeches and mission statements.
PARENTS CANNOT REMAIN SILENT
Parents also have a responsibility not to remain silent when children are treated unfairly, as this sends its own message that such treatment is acceptable. Advocacy for our children should never begin only after they become victims. It should begin whenever any child is denied dignity. After all, schools should be places where every child feels valued, encouraged, and inspired to improve. They should never become places where children are publicly reminded of their shortcomings before they have even entered adolescence.
Children mature at different rates. Some who struggle academically at age eleven become outstanding scholars, entrepreneurs, artists, skilled tradespeople, innovators, and national leaders. A single examination can never measure a child's potential or determine the course of an entire life.
BUILDING CHILDREN, NOT BREAKING THEM
Graduation is about completing a journey, not comparing destinations, just as schools exist to build children up, not tear them down. When the actions of an educational institution overshadow the achievements of the very children it exists to serve, serious questions must inevitably be asked about the quality of leadership, the exercise of judgment, and the systems of accountability that allowed such a decision to occur.
How we treat our children today will shape the kind of adults and ultimately the kind of society we become tomorrow. If we want a Jamaica that is more compassionate, more just, and more united, then we must ensure that our schools reflect those values in both word and deed.
"The price of democracy is not merely eternal vigilance—it is the courage to speak when silence is easier." Richard Hugh Blackford is a Fine Artist, Author and Social Commentator who resides in Lauderhill, Florida.
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