Rethink discipline in schools
Published:Tuesday | October 21, 2025 | 12:06 AM
THE EDITOR, Madam:
Recent debates surrounding student conduct particularly in relation to dress codes and hairstyles have reignited a familiar tension in schools. The swing in balance between discipline and self expression should not be negatively or incorrectly labelled. As we deliberate these issues, we must be careful not to frame student identity as a rebellion, nor dilute the importance of pride in oneself and in the institutions that shape civic society.
Schools are are dynamic spaces of learning, tasked with preparing our nation’s greatest resource for a rapidly evolving world.
When students alter their appearance be it hairstyle, uniform, footwear, or even their mannerisms, we must ask ourselves first if these are acts of defiance, or expressions of individuality shaped by our cultural legacy and generational voice?
Let us not forget that styles once deemed rebellious in my time (‘70s) like the Afro, the soul comb, Clarks shoes, Rasta-coloured belts and tams, skirts above the knee, bell-bottom and “Speng” pants, and the rhythmic “bop” in one’s walk, were all met with disciplinary action, from detention to corporal punishment. I remember in the 1970s, a student was expelled for wearing dreadlocks, a hairstyle rooted in spiritual and cultural identity. It took the bold leadership of Principal A.W. Powell of Excelsior High School to challenge that norm, affirming the student’s right to education and religious freedom.
Jamaica is a mosaic of cultures and histories, blessed with diversity and bound by a Constitution that calls us to respect and receive wisdom. Our schools must reflect this characteristic, not by rigid enforcement alone, but through open dialogue, creative support, and participatory teaching. Rules of conduct must be understood not just as mandates, but as frameworks that guide growth, shaped by the unique character of each institution.
This conversation is not only about our students. It is also about those who serve them educators, administrators, and alumni who must recognise that the culture they once challenged is now the culture they are called to nurture. Let us move forward with humility, wisdom, and a bold commitment to shaping our educational institutions that honour both discipline and identity.
HUGH BROWN
Pembroke Pines, Florida