Two student gangs connected to the Wisburg Secondary School, Linden, are engaging in acts of violence which are causing teachers and parents considerable anxiety.
According to reliable sources there have been at least ten violent incidents at the school this year, and only the week before last there was a fight involving the two gangs, after a student from one of the gangs boasted about his involvement with the girlfriend of a member of the other gang.
When word of this got around the real boyfriend of the girl equipped himself with a baton wrapped in cloth and barbed wire, and then in the company of his fellow gang members chased the boaster on school property. A member of the aggressor’s gang eventually caught up with him, pulled out a fake gun and beat him around the head. The victim was left defenceless because members of his own gang were not around to afford him protection.
At the time the fake gun was produced, teachers and others tried to intervene to stop the fight, but without success. Nevertheless, the boy managed to escape on that occasion, although the fight continued a few nights later at a popular night club. The matter was reported to the police station at Wismar which resulted in two of the gang members being held by police.
Another recent incident at the same school, sources said, involved a former student who had an issue with a current student. He was armed with a machete and attacked the young man. The attacker approached the other pointing the machete at his throat. His victim showed no inclination to resist, however, and so the assailant lowered his weapon and instead dealt him several blows about his head before running out of the school. However, an associate of the attacker continued the fight by pulling out a spear and stabbing the timid victim in his ribs. He was apprehended by teachers who had intervened in the matter. The victim did not realize he had been stabbed until a teacher noticed the holes in his shirt. He was taken to the Linden Hospital Complex where he was treated and sent home.
While teachers were dealing with the fracas another boy voiced the opinion that “if it was me it would nadda end suh,” at which point the armed student turned on him. He was not wounded, however, as the weapon fell to the ground and was kicked away. The assailant then left the school and returned the next day. He was suspended for a few days and is now back in school, informants told this newspaper.
Parents and teachers alike are concerned about the environment in the school, and Stabroek News understands that already for the year there have been more than ten instances involving the use of dangerous weapons that have been reported to the police.
Parents are claiming the behaviour of the students is beyond the capacity of teachers to control, and the immediate intervention of the relevant authority is required.
Apart from the violence, the school is plagued with other problems. Young girls are often found behind the school building during class time kissing boys from the school as well as men from outside. This newspaper was told that parents and teachers feel the Department of Education had been very dilatory and ineffective in dealing with issues at the school, especially violent behaviour, since most of the offenders were back in school continuing their destructive ways.
While the Wisburg’s Parent Teachers Association is said to be very weak, there were also rifts among the staff, and work was sometimes left uncompleted. In addition, a number of teachers had been on extended periods of leave, while it was alleged that others did not attend classes.
Approximately seven hundred children are enrolled at the school. These are students who did not gain places in secondary schools, and while there were many who were willing to work this newspaper was told, they were being disturbed by the “bad” ones. Some parents were of the opinion that if more motivating and innovative methods of teaching were employed, then it was likely learning could take place.
