Parents and teachers are being urged to utilise the transformative power of the arts in cultivating peace, discipline and youth empowerment in schools.

Director of the Safety and Security in Schools Unit in the Ministry of Education, Skills, Youth and Information, Richard Troupe, in making the call, said that “the arts, whether visual art, music, dance, drama or creative writing, offer a powerful avenue for promoting peace and discipline”.

“They provide a safe space for young people to express emotions. The arts allow us to channel complex emotions like anger, frustration or sadness into constructive ways. Painting, writing or playing music are very helpful to process difficult experiences and find inner peace. The arts also build empathy,” he pointed out.

Mr. Troupe was bringing greetings on behalf of Portfolio Minister, Senator Dr. the Honourable Dana Morris Dixon, at the Region 6 Deans of Dicipline Youth Forum and Symposium on Wednesday (February 12) at the Cumberland High School in St Catherine, under the theme ‘Cultivating a Culture of Peace’.

Championing the power of the arts, Mr. Troupe charged parents to support their children’s creative expressions and encourage them to use the medium as a means of communication and self-discovery.

He also reminded parents that they are their children’s first teachers, and as such, the onus is on them to impart important values before they enter society.

“Instil values of respect, tolerance and peaceful conflict resolution; this starts at home. Open communication, active listening and modelling positive behaviour are crucial,” Mr. Troupe said.

As for teachers, he challenged them to integrate the arts into the classroom as a tool for exploring emotions, building empathy and promoting understanding where there are differences.

Mr. Troupe’s message to students was for them to use the arts to cultivate an environment of peace in schools, where diversity is celebrated and inclusivity is promoted.

“Use your voices through the arts to express your concerns, shape your experiences and inspire positive change,” he encouraged.

President of the Region 6 Deans of Discipline and President of the National Association of Deans of Discipline, Dr. Rene Levell, in his remarks, said that cultivating peace is a personal decision that ultimately affects schools and the wider community.

“The aim of this youth forum and symposium is for you (students) to be champions of change [and] as we continue our journey to cultivate a culture of peace, let us remember that it starts with us. Peace begins in our hearts [and] extends to our whole school, flourishes within our churches, communities, and ultimately impacts the world,” Dr. Levell stated.

Member of Parliament (MP) for South Central St. Catherine, Dr. Andrew Wheatley, who delivered the main address, applauded the Region 6 Deans of Discipline for recognising the importance of addressing peace, especially within schools.

“I believe that if students have an appreciation for the whole concept of peace that we will have not only better communities but better families because, oftentimes, they can instruct and advise their parents, and grandparents, cousins and uncles as to why we need to take a softer approach to settle our differences,” he contended.

The first of its kind for Region 6, the youth forum and symposium included a panel discussion where students explored the effects of bullying and cyberbullying and how these can be prevented in schools with help from teachers and administrators.

The event doubled as an awards ceremony for a poster competition, where students were invited to create artwork on the topic ‘Promoting Peace and Discipline in Schools by Empowering Youth Through the Arts’.

Thirteen schools in St. Catherine entered the competition and their work was placed on display to be viewed by those in attendance.

José Martí High School emerged the winner, with Cumberland High School and Bridgeport High School placing second and third, respectively.