Paula Bridgewater, head teacher of the Diamond Secondary School, yesterday told Stabroek News that after the first stabbing incident on September 30, security measures were implemented the following day. Students, according to Bridgewater, are no longer allowed to take sharp objects to school.
She further said that the school’s security guards and prefect body subject students to “spot checks” and seize any sharp instruments in their possession. This, she said, is being done as a precaution. Those students who need to take scissors to school to use in their various classes are asked to lodge them at the school’s office.
Steffan Bobb had been stabbed by a classmate on September 30 after a squabble about a seat. Bobb’s attacker had used a pair of scissors.
Meanwhile, last Wednesday, First Form student Andrew Benn was stabbed after “jamming” another student during a “music clash.” Addressing last Wednesday’s incident, which occurred around 9.30 am, Bridgewater said it took place “a corner away from the school.” The students who were involved in the incident should have been at school by then. She said that because the incident happened on the street the school only learnt of it after the injured Benn was rushed to the hospital. Benn is currently a patient of the Georgetown Public Hospital.
Bridgewater said, while referring to an earlier report in the Stabroek News, that more efforts should have been made to contact the school for a comment. She said that these reports have possibly “tainted the image of the school”.
She said the September 30 incident resulted after a minor issue between Bobb and his classmate. She further stressed that last Wednesday’s incident was in no way related to or triggered by the September incident. Bobb and the teen who injured him are currently back at school, Bridgewater said, adding that both parties have cleared up their misunderstandings and are interacting “smoothly” with each other.
Since Bobb’s incident, social workers and teachers have had talks with students to help them understand that violence is not the way to solve problems. “Diamond Secondary is still a safe learning environment,” Bridgewater said, “The students here understand the message we are sending to them and understand that fighting solves nothing…we will continue to do what we can to avoid other such incidents from occurring.”
