Dear Editor,

Call 911! That's right, editor, call the police! What's the matter? Well, I'll tell ya - there's a fight going on in one of our schools.

Remember the good ole days, editor? A fight was just that - a fight - fists and legs flailing about. No guns. No knives. Just a good ole rumble.

Nowadays that is not the case. These children today are getting out of hand. These fights are so dangerous now that it is not enough to call a security guard to break up the fight; the school authorities have to call the police to deal with the matter.

Now that the government has seen fit to station the police at our schools, there is no need to call Central; an officer should already be there. I pray to God that that police officer is well armed, or else he/she will find himself/herself at a disadvantage. But how did this whole imbroglio evolve (fights with guns and knives)?

The students who have these weapons must have brought them to school with them. And (I suspect) that these same students cannot resist the temptation to reveal to other students that they are "packing heat". News spreads, and soon enough most of the students in the school know who not to "fool with". Can you believe that, editor? So, tell me, editor, where are the prefects in these schools?

Where are the students who participate in the police cadets program. I am certain that if news is circulating about these nefarious culprits, then they too should get wind of that same information. I was told by two police officers that the police even have "pimps" in the schools as part of their secret police cadet programs. Where are they?

What's my point? Well, the prefects, the cadets, and the secret cadets should be able to identify these students who are carriers of dangerous weapons even before the fights start; thereby avoiding a situation where the police have to be called to diffuse volatile states. The guilty students, who were only looking for trouble, could be charged and removed from the schools and disciplined.

And, editor, it is my humble opinion that these prefects, cadets, and secret cadets should be paid on a regular basis for participating in maintaining the peace in their respective schools. If they were not motivated before, they would certainly be motivated if they know that they will be paid for their services. Come on, editor, let's put these students to work and start ridding our schools of these (young) criminals. However, a word to these student police - your education always comes first. It is paramount.

Thank you for your time and space in your newspaper.

- Marvin G. Lightbourn

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