Police had to provide escort for a male student at a Clarendon school recently, after he was allegedly attacked by several of his schoolmates who accused him of being involved in 'funny' acts.

We understand that early in the school day, the boy was accused of stealing items from a female student. It is understood that the matter was reported to some male students and they were asked to get the stolen items from the 'funny' guy.

It is understood that when the description of the boy was given to the male students fitted that of a student who had been accused of being involved in homosexual acts and they went in search of him.

The boy was held and asked to hand over the stolen items, but he refused, resulting in him being assaulted from all directions. He reportedly fought back before someone shouted out that it was the 'funny' guy.

It is learnt that a scuffle ensued and scores of students swooped down on the student trying to beat him, not for the stolen items, but to show their disapproval for his so-called 'funny' acts.

The boy had to hide in an office on the school compound, protected by teachers. It is also learnt that he was hid for almost an hour until a police escort arrived, as students who did not want him in the school decided they were going to give him a good beating before he left.

However, the vigilance of the police prevented that and he was whisked away to his community.
There is now fear that the boy will not be able to return to school as several past and present students have vowed to beat him should he turn up.

Almost three weeks ago, another male student from another school was given a sound beating for appearing in a 'funny' video (as captioned in the cartoon above from the Star News). That student, it is understood, has not returned to his school since, due to fear another assault by persons who have connections with the institution.
ENDS

Notes:
As American pop star Janet Jackson 1988/9 album track says "Livin' in a World (They Didn't Make)" says -
"Children are called the future of an adult world
They are born with spirits so innocent
Til we teach them how to hate
Add to the world's confusion
We teach our kids rules
That we don't adhere to ourselves
Right or wrong
What example can they take
The people we learn from
Forge the ideas we become

Living in a world they didn't make
Living in a world that's filled with hate
Living in a world where grown-ups break the rules
Living in a world they didn't make
Paying for a lot of adult mistakes
How much of this madness can they take
Our children"

It is now the norm I guess for teens to reenact adult homophobic behaviour after all there are very few cases of repercussions or penalties for those who engage in such vigilante typed actions but then again our dancehall artists and music has also taught them well it seems as some tracks have a line or two about hating gays and other stereotypical material encouraging homophobia. Thanks to the police for their interventions in averting this situation it may have turned out worse than it has, cops today seem to be doing the right thing and gratefully so or else the cases would just have been piling up more and more.

How can we shape our youths to understand tolerance and comradery? in this case comradery to mean - A special bond within a group that is in no way erotic or homo-erotic. We hope his family is by his side on this and that he can relocate and start anew.

Peace and tolerance

H