PDSB Trustee Satpaul Singh Johal for Brampton’s wards 9 and 10 visited Harold Brathwaite Secondary School (HBSS) in ward 9. Trustee Mr. Johal’s special meeting took place with Principal Lola Gayle, Vice Principal David Barnes, Azima Thakor, Shakti Patel, and Superintendent Neerja Punjabi.
– ਮੁੰਡੇ ਵੱਧ!: 1748 students (932 male and 816 females) are enrolled in this school. Around 70 percent of them are from South Asia (Punjabi), 12 percent are black, and 5 percent are from the Muslim community.
– ਸਟਾਫ ਦੀ ਘਾਟ ਨਹੀਂ: With 1 principal, and 3 vice principals, HBSS has more than 145 teachers and staff members. Principal Gayle confirmed that their school has no staff shortage.
– ਵਰਦੀ ਦੀ ਗੱਲ: The principal, vice principals, and the superintendent loudly confirmed that they did not have any request to introduce uniforms in that school. Principal Gayle also said that most of the parents’ council members belong to the Punjabi community, and they also never ask for a uniform for the students.
– ਵਰਦੀ ਦੀ ਹੋਰ ਗੱਲ: Principal said that a uniform will not resolve issues teenagers are struggling with. About the reference to uniforms in Catholic schools, they said that Catholic schools are not problem-free, rather they sometimes have bigger problems than PDSB schools. Also, outsiders know tricks to ‘steal’ or borrow uniforms to enter a school.
– ਵਰਦੀ ਦੀ ਹੋਰ ਗੱਲ ਹੋਈ: Principal Gayle said that the British left us with uniforms that are still in our minds whereas we live in a free world of the 21st century, and it is time to leave slavery-impacted mindsets behind.
– ਮਾਪਿਆਂ ਲਈ ਸੁਨੇਹਾ: Principal Gayle added that parents should start listening to the teachers. Do not follow children if they tell you (the parents) that you should not go to their schools. Those children perform better in education whose parents remain connected and involved with their teachers and principal.
– ਮਾਪੇ ਬੱਚੇ ਨਹੀਂ ਹਨ!: Parents should build an environment at home so that children learn to listen to them. Children must follow their parents, not vice versa. Principal Gayle said that HBSS’s doors are always open for parents. They can come any time and discuss their minds.
– ਨਵੇਂ ਕੈਮਰੇ: Principal Gayle said that security cameras were recently replaced, and they are also mounted outside the washrooms.
– ਚਾਕੂ, ਕਿਚਨ ਤੋਂ ਸਕੂਲ ਤੱਕ: Principal Gayle said they had incidents when students brought knives (2 knives in the bag) from the home kitchen to the school, and police had to be called on the spot.
– ਵਾਸ਼ਰੂਮਾਂ ਉਪਰ ਨਜ਼ਰ: The principal and all 3 principals confirmed that they continuously monitor the washrooms and disperse student gatherings from inside.
– ਲੜਕੀਆਂ ਵੀ ਭੜਕੀਆਂ: Principal also said that they have sometimes to suspend and expel problem-creating students. Over 90 percent of HBSS students are good, and about 8 percent are the problem-makers. Additionally, not only male students are violent, but many girls are also bad, the principal said.
– ਸਸਪੈਂਡ ਕਰਨ ਦੀ ਗੱਲ: Any action or anything said to harm anyone intentionally, may lead to suspension or expulsion. The message is that do not use the N** word anywhere in the school and in society.
– ਮਾਪਿਆਂ ਦੇ ਕਰੈਡਿਟ ਕਾਰਡ ਨਾਲ਼ ਨਸ਼ੇ-ਸਿਗਰਟਾਂ: Principal said students use the credit and debit cards of their parents to purchase vapes and cannabis products.
– ਟੌਫੀਆਂ ਕਿ ਭੰਗ!: Parents must not blindly allow their children to buy anything until they make sure what that is. Parents must make themselves aware of Cannabis candies.
– ਦਿਮਾਗ ਦੀ ਹਿੱਲਜੁੱਲ ਬਾਰੇ ਗੱਲ: Mental health (emotional well-being) is a big issue among students in HBSS. Unsupervised use of phones and devices contributes to the problem related to the well-being of children.
– ਟੀਚਰਾਂ ਦੀ ਬੇਇਜ਼ਤੀ ਕਰਨ ਬਾਰੇ: On a serious note, the principal said that male students oftentimes insult female teachers, because role models are missing.
– ਸਮੱਸਿਆਵਾਂ ਦੀ ਜੜ੍ਹ ਘਰ `ਚ ਜਾਂ ਸਕੂਲ `ਚ: Principal added that usually, fathers work and mothers are at home, but most of the mothers have no knowledge of technology (computers). Children are left on their own and they (uncontrolled) indulge to do wild things on social media which, sooner or later start reflecting (violence, aggression, attacks) from their conduct at school.
