College should be supported

I was disappointed to read the headline Disgusted on the front page of the Exmouth Journal and to find that this referred to a decision of Exmouth Community College relating to matters of school discipline.

I was disappointed to read the headline 'Disgusted' on the front page of the Exmouth Journal and to find that this referred to a decision of Exmouth Community College relating to matters of school discipline.

The inference is clearly that the school is behaving in an unjustified manner, in this case by "not letting [the boy] be his own person."

I, personally, am delighted to see a school take a strong line in matters of discipline with its pupils, as too many young people are brought up to believe self-expression is some sort of inviolable right, and that, in turn, has the potential to lead to all kinds of anti-social behaviour.

How ironic, that, on the same front page, was an article giving an example of how such free expression has led to groups of youths in Littleham terrorising the neighbourhood!

I would imagine the Journal supports police action to deal with this behaviour - so how about a little bit of consistency?

School can be one place where young people learn that this right of self-expression has limits, and firm discipline can teach a sense of responsibility towards the community (not just oneself) and respect for proper authority.

Being the principal of a large comprehensive in today's social climate is not an enviable task, and, from what I hear, Mr Alexander is making a good job of it.

In these circumstances, I think the community of Exmouth (including the Journal) should be doing all it can to support the principal, rather than (as in this case) appearing to undermine him.

How about an editorial along these lines? I think the college principal would find it a great help in his work if he was to receive public support for his actions in maintaining firm discipline, and many parents and citizens of Exmouth would have reason to be grateful to you for articulating their own convictions.

Lee N Emerson,

(via email).

EDITOR'S?NOTE: there can hardly be a week goes by without a positive article about the college.

I am sure Mr Alexander would be the first person to agree that we regularly carry very supportive articles, ranging from success on the sports field to record examination results.