Positive (From Barry And District News)

Positive

I WRITE in regard to letters which you have published in recent editions of your newspaper about Schoolwatch. In particular the letter written by Mr Edwards.

As the person who introduced this project into schools throughout the Vale of Glamorgan and indeed to many other areas of South Wales I feel qualified to comment, something I do not think Mr Edwards is able to do.

This project started as a result of meetings between children from schools in Barry and myself and the idea was to find a way to involve children at a young age in their communities so that they developed a sense of belonging and ownership of their future.

Everything in the project was developed as a result of ideas coming from children. The name was their idea; they designed the logo and developed the four aims, which I would like to draw to your attention: To encourage good behaviour and a mutual respect; to promote safety in and around school; to prevent bullying and racism by creating a happy and caring environment; to encourage a pride in the school.

During the ten years that schoolwatch has been operating in the Vale some 5,000 children have striven to achieve these aims.

The project has been evaluated by the Home Office Police Research Unit and has been highly recommended throughout Wales as good practice. It has been recommended as a good way of preventing bullying and racism. The Divisional Commander of South Wales Police in Barry believes that Schoolwatch is a major reason for the drop in crime in the Vale of Glamorgan.

The children of the Vale of Glamorgan have every reason to be proud of their project and for someone like Mr Edwards to write in the way he did without first visiting the school concerned and speaking to the head teacher and the children is really an insult to all concerned.

From my knowledge of St Curig School I am aware that it is a caring and happy school that provides the opportunity for children to learn through the medium of Welsh it certainly does not force the children to do anything.

Personally I am very proud during my service as a police officer to have had the opportunity to work alongside the teachers and children of the Vale of Glamorgan who are all very positive about the future.

In conclusion I would recommend to anyone that if they perceive a problem in any school they should visit the school before they put pen to paper and cause unnecessary discord.

Jim Fletcher Retired South Wales Police