Parents attacking teachers amid contraband discoveries at ESHS
Parents have been accused of confronting teachers and administrators at the Elmore Stoutt High School (ESHS) at an increasing rate after contraband was found in students’ possession.
“This type of behaviour will not be tolerated,” Principal Vanessa Garraway wrote in a letter dated February 20. “We expect all discussions to remain respectful and professional.”
Routine random searches at the school uncovered “an alarming number of contraband and illegal substances,” posing “a serious threat to the safety and well-being of all students and staff,” Garraway stated.
In response, ESHS is partnering with the Royal Virgin Islands Police Force (RVIPF) to station School Resource Officers on campus to manage violence, inappropriate behaviours, and the presence of illegal substances. “Their presence will help reinforce discipline and ensure a safer school environment,” Garraway wrote.
The ESHS Principal also commented on the practice of threats being issued by students. “Please educate your children about making threats, whether they intend to carry them out or not,” Garraway stated. “We are taking a no-nonsense approach to this type of behaviour, and we are reporting all matters of this nature to the RVIPF.”
Immediate suspension
The school will implement stricter measures regarding prohibited items starting today, February 24. Students found with contraband will face immediate suspension, and parents must collect their children from school. The principal added that if students need to use their phones for after-school activities, they must check them in at the administration office and collect them at the end of the day.
Garraway urged parents to monitor their children’s belongings and discuss the importance of adhering to school rules and making positive choices. “As parents and guardians, we need you to do more,” she wrote. “It is your responsibility to ensure that your children are prepared for school with the necessary tools to be successful—both academically and behaviorally.”
The issue of contraband at ESHS is not new. Local youth leader Henderson Tittle previously described the situation as a “lost generation,” noting that students were bringing marijuana-laced edibles, sometimes mixed with cocaine, onto campus. He also reported incidents of students carrying weapons, including brass knuckles with knives attached. “It is serious! I’ve never seen so much brass knuckles in all my life,” Tittle said.
In January 2023, Education Minister Sharie deCastro announced a behaviour management plan to address disciplinary issues. “Secondary schools were charged with developing a positive behaviour management plan for their campuses,” deCastro said. Despite these measures, challenges have persisted.
“We need your partnership in this effort,” Garraway added. “Let’s work together to ensure that ESHS remains a place where students can thrive without distractions or safety concerns.”
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Kids emulating their parents?
Or parents emulating their kids…
Parents only expect teachers to educate their children these days. They want nothing to do with them
The school officials know who the troubled teens are and instead of addressing the situation they blanket the entire student body as being bad asses. Too many educators and officials nowadays are just there for the salaries and getting long Summer vacation. They are not like the teachers and caretakers years ago who had genuine love and interest for the young people. When positive things happen at the school it is never highlighted in the manner that the negatives are. When last parents received a letter from the school listing all the POSITIVES for that year, or term etc. School Concert? Athletics? Robotics? Drama Clubs? Music Programs etc.? Deal with the troubled kids and let the school function how it should. Some of the individuals are adults over the age of 18 and no proper alternatives are in place for them so you just paint the whole school black while not addressing the situation. Do you think it’s fair for our kids to be in the same classrooms/campus as these KNOWN dangerous persons? What are the guidance counselors doing? What is there real function? Do we have programs for rehabilitation for these young people that are going down the not-so-nice path? Come on man, stop being lazy!
I am one person who strongly feels teachers get bashed constantly for trying to do their respective jobs, which is to assist with educating our children. They are not responsible for educating any aged child to be respectful, honest, kind, compassionate, etc.. That begins at home from parents, guardians. Grandparents …. Do NOT blame teachers for the lack of these basic learnings.
One bad apple (or several) ruins it for all the rest and as a result stricter enforcements must be initiated to protect all the students who respect the environment of their school and only want to learn.
There are many schools and businesses that require students and employees to relinquish their phones when entering school or work. If you are honest with yourself you know why.
Teachers have a very difficult time with disruptive students. As a parent, guardian whatever, it is your responsibility to “police” your child or children! Check their backpacks, have discussions with them BEFORE they go to school, every single day & on school break and don’t blame the teachers for disruptive children. Do YOUR homework as a parent.
BLM is to blame for lack of respect to authority and general ignorance you see nowadays..the youth have been radicalized..blame the social Justice warriors for this
VI culture being passed down.
discipline problems in ESHS is no surprise. This school was rebuilt by a cri***al so now the students are turning to crime. You reap what you sow!
When teachers who are belongers or expatriates discipline or do not accept disrespectful behaviour from students, the parents attack the teachers in the presence of the students both at home and in the school
How dare you come here and want to tell our children what to do? This has been going on over the years
Now they have no respect for neither you as parents not the principal or teachers
This attitude is one of the reasons why we are getting downhill
Once you push back on anything with these immature persons working at the schools it’s called disrespect. They expect to just sit there holding titles, extended vacations and good pay without any challenges. Complete waste of f**king time they are. I’m so glad I don’t have any kids in that sorry place. The so called leaders have failed our youth in a major way. They only remember them when voting time comes around.
teachers cant talk to children and parents, simply solution, stay home and teach your kids.
You chose to build your BVI with this those and these,the worse in these Northern Hemisphere,and or obvious reasons rejected elsewhere.
Dreams do come true,
, Sooo what’s the problem???
Not in the distance future the USVI will create distance form these BVI,for their (USVI) betterment and these BVI will ba a blended continuity of sepsis in the Caribbean chain and with the Caricom moneys as exchange..,allyo sinking fast but it was inevitable. Written in big big letters and well deserved. Self made misery as norm.
.
BFEC please come over here take a look cause we are no different. I saw boys paying for drugs in advance. Go down the street you see them entering/exiting from we know where close to school.
Why are we acting brand new? High School is now 6 years which means we have kids as old as 18-20 on campus. Why are we surprised that smoking, gambling, sex etc. is happening on campus with this age group? Wouldn’t it make more sense to have the necessary programs in place to assist the kids with these issues? You can put 100 Police on campus and it will just make matters worst, not better. A lot of the kids have issues but nobody cares, they just pretend to care.
When you do what you do, you get what you get.
That is a exactly why Myron saw the need for building the wall but you all continue to kill him
the young immature BVIslander who cannot write a good paragraph.
Who meeting up with school children in the same jam
The same bar
You should hear in the classroom you don’t know who is teacher from student
Remember outsiders did not do anything to help build the country all the did was rape the Treasury
See where hatred is leading
Yes there are expats children who have added to the social ills .
Check it out See if those children who give trouble they are parented by BVI men with women on the sides
Or live in home with stepparents
Who to blame ! It takes a village to raise a child
@well sah. Wall ain’t stopping nothing
THE ENTITLED YOUTHS ARE EXPOSED TO ALL TYPES OF DRUGS THAT THEY THEMSELVES ARE NOT AWARE OF , / THE DRUGS ARD BEING MANUFACTURED IN SANTO IN MANY FORMSS DISGUISED TO LOOK INNOCENT AND HARMLESS – CANDIES – GUMMIES – DRINKS – FOOD – WEED – COSMETICS ETS , SO SOME OF THOSE PARENTS WHO’S DEFENDING THEIR HOLY KIDS ARE PROBABLY EXPOSED TO SOME OF IT TOO , / AD LONG AS THE DRUGS HAVE CIRCULATING IN THE SCHOOL , EVERY CHILD HAS TO BE CHECKED OUT , NOT JUST THOSE WHO ARE SHOWING SOME SIGNS OF THE SIDE EFFECTS OF THESE NEW KIND OF DESIGNED COMONFLAGED DRUGS THAT ARE BEING BROUGHT INTO THE COUNTRY BY PEOPLE WHO ONLY INTERESTED IN THE MONEY , ( THEY DON’T CARE ABOUT THE WELLBEING OF ANYBODY – ADULT OR YOUTH ) SO HAVE YOU KIDE DO A BLOOD TEST TO DETERMINE WHATS IN THEIR SYSTEM , SOME OF YOU NMIGHT BE SUPPRISED / AND THOSE WHO’S KIDS TESTED POSITIVE , CHECK YOURSELF TOO ESPECIALLY IF YOU SSMPLES YHE CANDIES ETC OR YOU CAN KEEP FOOLING YOURSELVES
Bags should be checked by security upon arrival on campus just in case a student wasn’t even thinking about their phone and forgot they had it in their bag to check in with the administrative office so that it’s does not cause immediate suspension.
This could happen if they’re running late or have an exam on their mind.
Security and the Admin office should work in liaison.
Let’s talk about the disrespectful staff members (not all) at ESHS who like to pass judgment on parents and speak to them any kind of way.
Don’t dish out what you can’t take in.
It started with the constant fighting. You all left that unchecked. Now surprise drugs and pink pussy cat. You left the weed in the land of illegal substance with no clean source for adults.
When the kids sneak a beer or sip of wine of their own accord at least they are getting a product out of a store that is safe for adults and not laced with bullcrap. They dont get bad moonshine that sends them to the hospital. Kids should not use drugs but they are not stupid. If they want to they will get in the honey and for that reason it should not kill them or hook them.
Back when I was young school mates made a brownies and who wanted ate but I bet that weed was organic from a farmer as life was back then. Now no one knows what is in it but bet it aint organic.