Dear Source,
Everyone keeps saying, "Let's stop the violence." Well, how about going in a positive direction instead.
I keep hearing people saying, "Lets stop crime." What I want to know is how they intend to do that? Our island kids are shooting each other!
How are you going to stop them? And what do you do with a 15-year-old murderer? Is it right to lock up a young child and say there is no hope for their life ever again because they made a bad mistake?
Maybe one way we might reduce crime is to make a real commitment to the kids, show them our community cares. And that means education, an investment in their future and ours. That also means paying teachers enough to live on, and means buying those children's text books and giving them a free bus ride to school! Instead of cutting teachers salaries, why don't we get rid of some of the middle management. What is a school anyway besides teachers and children? Children are the future of our society. They are going to be replacing all of us one day on this planet. The way the schools are now says to the kids, "we don't care about your future." So how do you expect the kids to care about their future either? If the kids are given a chance to learn and exercise their brains maybe they wouldn't do such stupid things like get guns and have a shoot out on Main Street. Lack of thinking is the problem here, not inherent criminality. These kids need to be taught to THINK, especially those that cannot continue to live on the island.
What if they have to leave the island to pursue greener pastures? How
can they compete with their stateside peers armed with a shoddy education from the Virgin Islands? It is an unspeakable injustice to them! (Why are the down islanders much better educated on their cash-poor islands?)
I think the government has proven time and time again that they don't care about the young Virgin Islanders and the kids know that they are not cared for. Now the government has decided that the kids have to pay for their bus ride to school. What if they cannot afford it? I guess they just won't go to school? Then the government will have to pay less money out for that student because they can't afford to go to school.
Great plan Senators!
Our "village" is supposed to be involved in raising every child. Well I say our "village" is a neglectful one. Is it any wonder why the kids are so angry?
I'm angry too! I say: FREE BOOKS, FREE BUS RIDES for every student public school and private! I don't care if it has never been done before or if it is expensive. Educating the children and giving them a future is the one single best way to curb the violence. Cut back on something else besides the children's futures Senators!
Oh and people will often say, "Oh if they are really educated, they'll just leave the island". Okay some of them will. Maybe if enough of them do, they'll go to the states and vote for a President who will do favorable things for our islands. Or maybe one our children will become a person of influence who can help the islands. You just cannot lose by educating the children. But you can lose, and lose, and lose if you don't.
Cindy Larason
St. Thomas
