Changing
behaviour - the
holland high model
Richard
Morais,Gleaner Writer
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Executive
director of the Family and Parenting
Centre in Montego Bay, Dr Beverley
Scott, speaks with Falmouth's junior
mayor, Baston Galloway, while participants
in the 'Generation Impact' programme
look on.
- photo by Richard Morais
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Holland
High School in Trelawny and the Trelawny
Parish Council are conducting Generation
Impact, a programme to expose approximately
nine pupils with antisocial behaviour to
hands-on planning and training to change
the likely outcome of harmful behaviour.
The
programme is the project of the junior mayor
of Falmouth, Baston Galloway, a student
of the school. Three schools are participating
in the programme, including the host institution,
along with Muschette and Cedric Titus high
schools.
Six-year
plan
The
participants are required to make a six-year
plan, stating how they intend to reach community
acceptable goals and how they will contribute
to social mobility. They were also required
to visit a correctional facility and participate
in a group project.
The
activities of the project, which were funded
by the Local Government office, will be
conducted over a period of one month.
"Many
of the researches conducted in Jamaica have
shown that crime and violence is our most
pressing concern and the town of Falmouth
is not exempt from this," said the
junior mayor.
The
young man pointed out that the schools were
microcosms of the society and, therefore,
needed such a programme.
Disruptive
behaviour
Along
with Galloway, the other project coordinators
are Pauline Reid, principal of the Holland
High School, and guidance counsellor Garland
McDonald.
The
school representatives are also working
in tandem with the director of planning
at the Trelawny Parish Council, Marlette
Wellington.
Youthlink
attended one of the sessions at the Family
and Parenting Centre in Montego Bay. The
centre's executive director, Dr Beverley
Scott, stressed that more emphasis has to
be placed on the family to curb some of
the children's disruptive behaviour. She
said often times, emphasis is placed on
other areas to the detriment of the real
problem.
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