Speak Peace. Live Peace.

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“Everyone is crying out for peace, none is crying out for justice. I need equal rights and justice."- Peter Tosh. Each March the society pauses to observe Peace Day in our educational institutions. The fact that Peace Day is being observed in our schools is disconcerting. This issue at hand speaks to the wider societal problems of conflict and strife which have plagued the nation for years. While schools are supposed to be safe spaces, most of our schools are part of an education system synonymous with oppression and injustice. Those with power and authority often make policies in a culture where consultation is absent. This high-handed top down approach is rooted in our history of enslavement where one class believes they have all the rights without corresponding responsibility. The rule of law is selectively applied to various stakeholders in a biased and punitive way. Unfortunately, our schools have become sites of injustice where meritocracy is shunned. The positional power which is the dominant school of thought does more harm than good oftentimes fostering a culture of discontent and disagreement. Students do not feel safe as bullying has been normalized within the education system. Alarmingly, bullying is not only confined to student against student but also positional authority against other stakeholders. The constant struggle for power among primary stakeholders leaves students paying an unbearable price for their education. Recently, the entire nation witnessed the end result of unresolved conflicts at a St. James based high school where the school was forced to close while students were denied their right to an education. Our educational institutions are supposed to be for the benefit of our students in order to prepare them adequately to take over the reins of power. However, to what extent is this being done? Instead, what the education system has done is to create a cohort of schools of choice where the children of the elite attend. What about the masses of the students? Schools have become places of high stress levels where mental health is constantly under attack. Sadly, as a society we do not place enough emphasis on mental wellness. Our schools are perfect replicas of the wider society comprising of countless challenges as well as opportunities. Perhaps Peace Day 2025 which is observed on Tuesday (March 4), under the theme 'Speak Peace. Live Peace', will be cathartic and will usher in a culture of justice and respect. However, as a society we cannot merely wish this, there must be a concerted and honest effort to reclaim our schools as sites of peace and learning. For us to truly realize Jamaica as that place to live, work, raise families and do business we must ensure that our schools are safe and peaceful. Let us give peace a chance. In the words of Maria Montessori, preventing conflicts is the work of politics, establishing peace is the work of education. Wayne Campbell is an educator and social commentator with an interest in development policies as they affect culture and or gender issues. waykam@yahoo.com @WayneCamo © #PeaceDay

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