The sight of schoolchildren chanting for political candidates on their way to nomination centres last Friday has sparked a national debate over the role of minors in partisan politics.
Under a video posted to Facebook of students standing outside the Ave Maria Girls School chanting ‘SLP! SLP!’ one parent stated, “I have been saying if my child was attending that school I would take the necessary actions. Yellow or red this is wrong!!
Calling into Timothy Poleon’s NewsSpin on Monday, Tina Charles questioned the involvement of children. “Since when are minors being mixed into politics… what was the purpose of that foolish exercise, what gratification did the students get from standing outside chanting ‘SLP!’ for over 15 minutes…?” she asked.
Another caller defended the scenes, arguing that participation could be seen as part of civic awareness. “I do not see anything wrong with schoolchildren participating in the election or any event related to elections, simply because education is not only within the classroom… all of those things [are] part of the democratic process,” the caller said, insisting that the matter was being exaggerated, as children cannot vote and their presence is unlikely to influence an election.
Poleon pushed back strongly. “But it ought not to be partisan,” he said. “Don’t have the people’s children lined up on the streets cheering on the United Workers Party or the Saint Lucia Labour Party… I believe it is unacceptable, it is setting a dangerous trend and we ought not to tolerate it.” He also questioned whether parents had been consulted.
The discussion has been largely fuelled by videos of students from the Ave Maria Girls’ School erupting in cheers as Saint Lucia Labour Party candidate for Castries Central, Richard Frederick, and his entourage passed the school compound on Friday en route to filingFrederick’s nomination papers. Teachers were seen among the students.
Seeking to protect his late wife from criticism, the husband of the late Margaret Andy Haynes-Edgar, principal of the Infant Section of the Ave Maria Girls’ School, also called into the programme. “I’m only here to disclose that the principal is not involved because the principal was sick and unfortunately she passed away on Sunday last week,” he said.
The principal of the primary section of the school declined to comment at this time.
Similar scenes were reported outside other institutions, including the Entrepot Secondary School and the Babonneau Secondary School.
Addressing the issue at a press conference on Monday, Prime Minister Philip J. Pierre dismissed the criticism, framing the public outcry as political in nature.
“Children’s expression is how they feel and they have a right to express…” Pierre told reporters.
Calling the debate “political umbrage,” he added, “I see absolutely nothing wrong with children expressing themselves… we speak about the youth, [so] why when the youth express their political preference we want to get annoyed? We’ve gotten so pure and pristine, ‘OMG, children…ethical’, That is hypocrisy at its highest and I cannot subscribe to that.”
Pierre further argued that any support shown to the SLP is tied to policies his administration has introduced to the education sector, including payment of facility fees, coverage of four CXC subjects for secondary school students, and material allowance support for teachers.
The National Principals Association also declined to comment. A request for comment from the Ministry of Education had not been answered at the time of publication.
SHAME on this (current?) administration for enabling such. In years to come, this instance may have a phycological impact on part of their growing up, positively or negatively. If my school aged child was coerced in such an activity – I would pull them out, with an explanation! Children should not be forced or involved in any form of politics, as their critical thinking pattern has not yet evolved, due to their extremely young age. Again I say, SHAME on you politicians for exploiting children with YOUR behaviour.
Beyteez!!
This is the nonsense that I cannot stomach. I am an SLP supporter, but I am also an educator. This has nothing to do with children expressing themselves. The school has no right having school children involved in partisan politics. It is clear from the video recordings that the children were lined up there to do just what happened and it is wrong.
I am sure if it had been in favor of the UWP, SLP supporters including me would condemn it.
I practice my politics, but I leave my two young out of my party politics.
IT IS NOT THE ROLE OF THE SCHOOL TO FACILITATE CHILDREN’S ENGAGEMENT IN PARTY (and I say PARTY) POLITICS.