Letter of the Day | Solutions to ending school fights

THE EDITOR, Madam:

Anticipating the start of the next academic term, school fights will inevitably return. Though some of them will not be paraded on social media, fights also happen in the schools that people call “prestige”, so there is no need to separate the violence between “prestige” and “non-prestige”. Similarly, violence, period, is unacceptable, no need to separate them according to gender either.

In that regard, I have some solutions to solve school fighting.

1. Let’s organise prison tours for delinquent students, boys and girls. Let it be guided by prison officers, and select prisoners to have a nice chat with them. This would be similar to the ‘Beyond Scared Straight’ programme in the United States, except they won’t be spending the night because we obviously don’t have the space or facilities.

2. Another solution is professional boxing. From the point of view of a young man like myself, who in their right mind would mess with schoolgirls nowadays? Especially, with the kind of blows they are pelting? There is significant talent there that can be harnessed to elevate the sport.

Boxing fosters respect, humility, mercy, discipline, physical education, restraint and boundaries where they can let out all their anger and energy.

It doesn’t necessarily mean all will have to fight someone, but in terms of sparring, self-defence, the training and extracurricular activity gained from boxing is ideal for student development. If it were taken seriously, gyms, schools, and community involvement would thrive.

I urge the Ministry of Education to consider it. Don’t wait for school to open then realise that we have to do something to address school violence.

KENDELL KARAN