I was hit this morning with the tragic news of yet another incident of teen violence in one of our schools in the Greater Toronto Area. According to the news report a 17-year-old Thomas L. Kennedy Secondary School student is facing charges after another student was stabbed on Monday in the hallway of the school. I heard the news while I was returning home from dropping my teenage son at school.
As the parent of two teens in high school, I am always shocked each time I hear news reports about violence in schools across the Greater Toronto Area. Teen violence in schools has a devastating impact on our entire community. We must continue to work assiduously to stop teen violence. I do not profess to have the answers for addressing all the issues relating to teen violence in our schools. However, I can share some my experiences that I have with my teens.
Our teens need to be encouraged to be the best they can be. This morning as I was driving my son to school I asked him, “What is the absolutely one thing he loved the most about me as his dad?” My son responded by saying he absolutely love how I am always encouraging him and his sister to be the best they can be. Offering our teens positive words of encouragement does not cost us anything other than spoken words. If we are going to truly address teen violence across the Greater Toronto Area we will need to encourage teens to be the best they can be.
Encouraging teens to be the best they can be also involves encouraging dialogue and conversations. My follow up question to my son this morning was “What is the absolutely one thing he really dislike about me as his dad?” Brace yourself for this one. He told me that he absolutely hate some my food because sometimes I make really bad food. He gave me the example of this morning when I made Quaker Natural Wheat Bran Muffins for breakfast. He was very confident that I would take his comments about my food in a light-hearted his way. However, the key point is that teens need to be comfortable and confident in order to engage their parents and peers in dialogue and conversations.
In closing, I firmly believe two key ingredients for addressing teen violence in schools across the Greater Toronto Area are (1) encourage teens to be the best they can be and (2) encourage them to be comfortable and confident to engage their parents and peers in conversations.
Tuesday, September 22, 2009
Tuesday, September 15, 2009
Become Our Brother’s Keeper
On Monday, September 14, 2009 two 17-year-old boys were stabbed in the parking lot of Bloor Collegiate Institute. This is the second stabbing incident since the start of the 2009/10 school. As the parent of two teens in high school, I am always shocked each time I hear new reports about violence in schools across the Greater Toronto Area. Teen violence in schools has a devastating impact on our entire community and we must work assiduously to stop teen violence. Since the stabbing incident at St. Joseph Catholic School in Mississauga in June, I have taken a much deeper interest in the campaign to address teen violence in our schools. It is for this reason I started the Facebook Group called “Stop Teen Violence in Schools Across the GTA.” The group was created to attract parents, policymakers, and others who have an interest to ending teen violence in our schools. The membership to the group is open. There are currently 120 people in the group most of whom are from around the GTA and other parts of Canada.
The incident at St. Joseph Catholic School hit very close to home for me. It is an experience that I am still trying to understanding what went wrong. One of the key lessons that I have learnt from the incident at St. Joseph is that each of us have a role to play if we are going to seriously curb violence in schools across the Greater Toronto Area. It takes a village to grow a child. We need to become our brother’s keeper. We need to be attentive to the teens around us. We should encourage teens especially those who appear to be struggling with their personalities and identities to get involved in character building programs at schools, church or community centres. It's not enough to notice; we have to intervene by providing support, warning the necessary people, and providing a healthy and supportive environment. Young people need opportunities to talk and connect with adults who care about them.
The incident at St. Joseph Catholic School hit very close to home for me. It is an experience that I am still trying to understanding what went wrong. One of the key lessons that I have learnt from the incident at St. Joseph is that each of us have a role to play if we are going to seriously curb violence in schools across the Greater Toronto Area. It takes a village to grow a child. We need to become our brother’s keeper. We need to be attentive to the teens around us. We should encourage teens especially those who appear to be struggling with their personalities and identities to get involved in character building programs at schools, church or community centres. It's not enough to notice; we have to intervene by providing support, warning the necessary people, and providing a healthy and supportive environment. Young people need opportunities to talk and connect with adults who care about them.
Friday, July 10, 2009
There Can Be No Winners
The family of the two brothers charged in the stabbing incident on June 17th at St. Joseph Catholic Secondary School in Mississauga is delighted that the boys were granted bail today. Violence in our schools hurts not just the perpetrators and victims but the entire school body, the community, families and friends. In these situations there can be no winners. As a society we must categorically denounced violence in schools across the Greater Toronto Area.
Since the incident at the school I have had the opportunity to spend a significant amount of time with the parents of the two brothers. During this time I have seen their emotional turmoil. I have seen their tears as they struggle internally, both individually and collectively, searching for answers, understanding and compassion.
The boys' parents are people whom I admire and respect. I think they are best neighbours in the world. Both are hard working. Both want nothing but the best for thier children. Both gentle and kind. They are quick to shovel the snow from my driveway in the winter. In 2007, I was honoured when the mother of two brothers lend a helping hand to care for my ailing mother.
Today in court I had the opportunity of meeting the parents of two of the boys hurt during the incident at the school. I also observed their emotional turmoil. Unequivocally, violence in our schools rips us apart individually and collectively as community. The pshyscological, emotional and physical scars are deep and enormously painful. Today when I held the parents of two of the boys injured in the incident I felt every ounce of their pain.
I am absolutely confident that this not an experience I would want for myself or my wife. No parent, family, friend or community should have to endure pain caused by violence in our schools. It is abundantly clear in my mind that there can be no winners when violence enters the schools in our communities. It is for this reason that we have to be resolute in our campaign to stem the tide of teen violence that has entered schools across the Greater Toronto Area.
Since the incident at the school I have had the opportunity to spend a significant amount of time with the parents of the two brothers. During this time I have seen their emotional turmoil. I have seen their tears as they struggle internally, both individually and collectively, searching for answers, understanding and compassion.
The boys' parents are people whom I admire and respect. I think they are best neighbours in the world. Both are hard working. Both want nothing but the best for thier children. Both gentle and kind. They are quick to shovel the snow from my driveway in the winter. In 2007, I was honoured when the mother of two brothers lend a helping hand to care for my ailing mother.
Today in court I had the opportunity of meeting the parents of two of the boys hurt during the incident at the school. I also observed their emotional turmoil. Unequivocally, violence in our schools rips us apart individually and collectively as community. The pshyscological, emotional and physical scars are deep and enormously painful. Today when I held the parents of two of the boys injured in the incident I felt every ounce of their pain.
I am absolutely confident that this not an experience I would want for myself or my wife. No parent, family, friend or community should have to endure pain caused by violence in our schools. It is abundantly clear in my mind that there can be no winners when violence enters the schools in our communities. It is for this reason that we have to be resolute in our campaign to stem the tide of teen violence that has entered schools across the Greater Toronto Area.
Tuesday, June 23, 2009
What Went Wrong At St. Joseph
According to the Mississauga News, the police are now considering charging one of the teens stabbed in the incident at St. Joseph Catholic School. On Monday, June 22, 2009 the two teen brothers charged in the stabbing incident appeared before the Brampton Court. Their bail hearing is set for July 10, 2009. While I welcome the news that the police is reviewing the video http://link.brightcove.com/services/player/bcpid8724876001?bctid=26655773001 from CityNews TV in Toronto, I am deeply hurt and unhappy.
I am quite frankly outraged by the video and the incident last Wednesday. Unfortunately, the news media has not given the incident at St. Joseph the comprehensive attention that it deserve. We have to turn the spotlight on the saga at St. Joseph if we are going to root out teen violence. The more I think about the fiasco at the school I cannot help but ask what went wrong? I am of the view that the principal, the school board and law enforcement should be held accountable to answer a number of fundamental questions. When we take into consideration the fight seen in the video and the stabbing incident it is very obvious that there must be some kind of underlying issues. Unfortunately the public will only learn about the underlying issues after the students and their family lives have been scarred permanently.
Undoubtedly there were underlying issues. What were those issues? What measures were put in place by the school, the school board and other authorities to mitigate both incidents that is the fight last Monday and the stabbing last Wednesday? With respect to the fight was the school and school board aware of the fight involving students from St. Joseph? If so, what disciplinary measures were taken? Were parents notified? If the school and the board was aware of the fight and disciplinary action taken would could we have averted the stabbing incident? If the fight occurred just outside of the boundaries of the school, what measures are in place for such incidents involving students? Where those measures taken?
The million dollar question in this entire saga is why would our children participate in such a vicious fight last Monday, record it on a video and see absolutely no need to notify the school administrators or their parents? Where are the students seen in the video, where are their parents? Is the culture of not snitching informally institutionalised in the school? The community need answers for what went wrong at St. Joseph Catholic Secondary School.
I am quite frankly outraged by the video and the incident last Wednesday. Unfortunately, the news media has not given the incident at St. Joseph the comprehensive attention that it deserve. We have to turn the spotlight on the saga at St. Joseph if we are going to root out teen violence. The more I think about the fiasco at the school I cannot help but ask what went wrong? I am of the view that the principal, the school board and law enforcement should be held accountable to answer a number of fundamental questions. When we take into consideration the fight seen in the video and the stabbing incident it is very obvious that there must be some kind of underlying issues. Unfortunately the public will only learn about the underlying issues after the students and their family lives have been scarred permanently.
Undoubtedly there were underlying issues. What were those issues? What measures were put in place by the school, the school board and other authorities to mitigate both incidents that is the fight last Monday and the stabbing last Wednesday? With respect to the fight was the school and school board aware of the fight involving students from St. Joseph? If so, what disciplinary measures were taken? Were parents notified? If the school and the board was aware of the fight and disciplinary action taken would could we have averted the stabbing incident? If the fight occurred just outside of the boundaries of the school, what measures are in place for such incidents involving students? Where those measures taken?
The million dollar question in this entire saga is why would our children participate in such a vicious fight last Monday, record it on a video and see absolutely no need to notify the school administrators or their parents? Where are the students seen in the video, where are their parents? Is the culture of not snitching informally institutionalised in the school? The community need answers for what went wrong at St. Joseph Catholic Secondary School.
Saturday, June 20, 2009
Red Flags For Identifying the Risk of Teen Violence
Based on my experience and observations there are some key red flags for identifying the risk of teen violence. These signs are often missed or overlooked by parents, law enforcement and other authorities when dealing with both potential teen violence victims or the teens who may be the potential perpetrator of teen violence. Some of the indicators are similar to signs of the emergence of teen gangs and as such are often diagnosed as teens' involvement in gangs.
The following is my list of red flags:
1. Frequent use of inappropriate language in conversation including on Facebook
2. Change in the mode of dress and general deameanor especially of young males
3. Egging or throwing of filth on homes of teen victims
4. Lack of diversity amongst friends
5. Parent, school administrators, law enforcement and other authorities having a strong suspicion that some is wrong but can not identify precisely what is wrong
6. Teens constantly denying that something is wrong when pressed by adults with a strong suspicion.
7. Teen not wanting to make eye contact with adults who is suspicious
8. Change of friends
9. Lack of interest in things other teens seem to enjoy
10. Matters involving teens reported to law enforcement but are dismissed as either trivial or don't have evidence to substantiate
11. Matters involving teens taken to school administrators but not given enough attention because the school administrators fear ruining the reputation of their schools.
12. Signs similar to the emergence of teen gangs
The list is based on my own experience and observations. Please note this list is not exhausted. Please feel free to send me other red flags that you consider important. I will be updating this list from time to time.
The following is my list of red flags:
1. Frequent use of inappropriate language in conversation including on Facebook
2. Change in the mode of dress and general deameanor especially of young males
3. Egging or throwing of filth on homes of teen victims
4. Lack of diversity amongst friends
5. Parent, school administrators, law enforcement and other authorities having a strong suspicion that some is wrong but can not identify precisely what is wrong
6. Teens constantly denying that something is wrong when pressed by adults with a strong suspicion.
7. Teen not wanting to make eye contact with adults who is suspicious
8. Change of friends
9. Lack of interest in things other teens seem to enjoy
10. Matters involving teens reported to law enforcement but are dismissed as either trivial or don't have evidence to substantiate
11. Matters involving teens taken to school administrators but not given enough attention because the school administrators fear ruining the reputation of their schools.
12. Signs similar to the emergence of teen gangs
The list is based on my own experience and observations. Please note this list is not exhausted. Please feel free to send me other red flags that you consider important. I will be updating this list from time to time.
Friday, June 19, 2009
Campaign Against Teen Violence in Schools
Today I am launching a campaign against teen violence in schools across the GTA. A week ago I had my own experience relating to both a school and law enforcement about an incident involving my teen daughter. I was not in position to determine whether or not comments made on Facebook could escalate into actual violence. I was dismayed by the casual approach taken by both law enforcement and the school. I left felt if I had an opportuntiy to speak with the parent of the offending child I would have being much more satisfied. I know that my own children are likely to make mistakes or act inappropriate at some point in time. Even as an adult I still make mistakes or act inappropriately. However the critical difference between a responsible adult and a teen is the ability to recognise when, where, or how one acted inappropriately or made a mistake. The recent violence at one of the schools in my neighbourhood has added fuel to my conviction that public policies realting to teen violence in school across the GTA need to be re-examined. It is against this background that I have decided that to transform my blog into a campaign against teen violence in schools across the GTA.
Wednesday, June 3, 2009
Be Bold. Be Courageous.
By Mark McKenzie
June 3, 2009
One Sunday morning in December 1997 I was reading the Jamaican Sunday Gleaner when I came across an advertisement in the careers section for the post of Policy Research Officer at the Cayman Islands Monetary Authority. Although I was not actively seeking new employment opportunities based on the job description I was confident that I had the experience and qualifications to secure the job if I applied. At the time I was employed with one of the major financial institutions in Jamaica in the risk management area. In addition, I was co-opted to the work on the Jamaican Bankers’ Association proposal for the introduction of depositors’ insurance scheme. I was also drafted into high powered subcommittee to make recommendations for the resuscitation of the Jamaican economy which suffered from a severe systemic financial crisis. The truth is I was relatively satisfied with my career. Quite frankly I had not given any consideration to living and working outside of Jamaica. However, something made me applied for the job. About a month or two after I was invited to the Cayman Islands for a job interview. Sometime in March 1998, I received a call informing me that I was the successful candidate for the job. I was made offer which included an option to move to my young family to the Cayman Islands. I had roughly three weeks to accept the offer.
I was very excited by job offer and the challenges and opportunities such a journey would hold. At the same time I was apprehensive and afraid. My life was instantly turned upside down filled with emotional turmoil. I had to make a decision about uprooting my wife and children from their families and friends relocate them in a foreign land. I also had to decide whether I wanted to give up my job in Jamaica. I was afraid and paralyzed by the fear. I was reluctant to get out of my comfort zone. As I struggled internally with the decisions of accepting the job in the Cayman Islands and moving from Jamaica a very good friend of my wife and I told me “Mark, fortune is for the brave!” These are words that have stayed with me for the last ten years. I remember many years ago another very good family friend and mentor told me “Mark, we cannot live our lives in fear!” If we are afraid or if we live in our lives in fear life will pass us by and we will miss the joy of living. The fear of failure, the fear of rejection and the fear of criticism will limit our potential and cause us to under achieve. We therefore have to be bold, be courageous and be different.
In the spring of 1998 I moved my young family from Jamaica, the land of our birth, to the beautiful Cayman Islands. The thought of living and working away from home was trilling. However it was with much trepidation that my family and I left behind the life we knew that was filled and joyous memories with friends and families. I knew if I was going to pursue towards my goals and the goals of my young family I had to forgetting the things behind and stretch forward to the things ahead. As I plunge into the unknown little did I did not know that the single decision accept the job in the Cayman Islands was the start of career in financial sector supervision and regulation and a journey around the world. A journey that has so far taken me across the entire Caribbean region, parts of Africa and Asia. A journey that has seen me touring the Elmira Castle, the Point of No Return, in Ghana . It was also the commencement of an international career working for a number of regional and international agencies, financial institutions and governments and policymakers around the world.
It is journey that has taught me there is no need for us to continuously look at the things behind us when we have whole life ahead. I have heard Joel Osteen said this is the reason a car has a very big front windscreen and tiny rear view mirror. He said it is more important to our eyes on the road ahead while occasionally glancing on the things behind us. It does not mean we forget our experiences or our history which is guide for our present and our future. The ride will have bumps and we will get bruises. We will going through peaks and valleys but we should not let fear, uncertainty or doubt paralyze us.
Life for me has been a purely amazing journey. I remember one day in the 1970s I gave my cousin my shoes to wear to school because I wanted to experience walking bare feet to Huntley All Age School in rural Manchester, Jamaica. At that time I never dreamt that my journey would have taken to some of places I have travelled to and visited and some people I have met and cultures I have experienced. As vicious and as unkind as children can be to each other I had no fear that other students would probably teased me for I walking bare feet to school that day. And here I am today writing about it and do not even recall what happen at school that day.
My experience has taught me that if we are afraid or if we are consumed by fear we will fail to punch our weight, it will inhibit our goals and ambitions and we will be trapped in a "malaise of modesty". We need bold strategies to seize the abundance of opportunities that are available in the world today. To quote Walt Disney “all our dreams can come true, if we have the courage to pursue them”.
Although I was satisfied with my job in Jamaica, I had a dream that one day I would be on top of my field competing with the best and brightest anywhere in the world. I have big dreams and a big heart. However, I knew if I wanted to be successful, if I wanted to turn my dreams into reality I had to overcome my fears. I had to overcome the fear of failure. I had to be bold. I had to be brave and courageous rather than incapacitated or immobilised by fear. Successful people overcome their fear of failure. Fear incapacitates unsuccessful people. Winston Churchill said "Success is never final. Failure is never fatal. It is courage that counts."
On my journey I have learnt that there is no failure but rather an experience from which to learn and grow. Successful people look at mistakes as outcomes or results, not as failure. Unsuccessful people look at mistakes as permanent and personal. As a parent whatever I have learnt is as a consequence of trial and error experience on my part or by others. As humans we learn only through mistakes. We should not impose limits on ourselves or on what we can accomplish in our lives.
The single decision that I made back in 1998 and the road I have travelled since them has led me to where I am today. I am living a dream. In 2006, I made a bold and courageous decision and established Mark McKenzie Consulting. In doing so I had to learn to overcome fear, uncertainty and doubt. It is not an easy journey because along the way, many people attempted to dissuade me off his path. Fear, uncertainty and doubt are the most powerful weapon that will prevent you from reaching your lifetime goals. Fear, uncertainty and doubt are insidious and are often camouflaged or cloaked in messages that are designed to plant the seedlings of self-doubt and thus deter you from your dreams.
Fortune is indeed for the brave and I am finally learning how wealth is created. Ms Maud ’s grandson has achieved some of his personal goals and this has resulted in a sense of accomplishment and personal satisfaction. You too can achieve your goal by turning your dreams into reality. However, you have to learn how to identify the obstacles of goal derailment, which primarily consists of fear, uncertainty and doubt. You have to be bold. Be COURAGEOUS!
June 3, 2009
One Sunday morning in December 1997 I was reading the Jamaican Sunday Gleaner when I came across an advertisement in the careers section for the post of Policy Research Officer at the Cayman Islands Monetary Authority. Although I was not actively seeking new employment opportunities based on the job description I was confident that I had the experience and qualifications to secure the job if I applied. At the time I was employed with one of the major financial institutions in Jamaica in the risk management area. In addition, I was co-opted to the work on the Jamaican Bankers’ Association proposal for the introduction of depositors’ insurance scheme. I was also drafted into high powered subcommittee to make recommendations for the resuscitation of the Jamaican economy which suffered from a severe systemic financial crisis. The truth is I was relatively satisfied with my career. Quite frankly I had not given any consideration to living and working outside of Jamaica. However, something made me applied for the job. About a month or two after I was invited to the Cayman Islands for a job interview. Sometime in March 1998, I received a call informing me that I was the successful candidate for the job. I was made offer which included an option to move to my young family to the Cayman Islands. I had roughly three weeks to accept the offer.
I was very excited by job offer and the challenges and opportunities such a journey would hold. At the same time I was apprehensive and afraid. My life was instantly turned upside down filled with emotional turmoil. I had to make a decision about uprooting my wife and children from their families and friends relocate them in a foreign land. I also had to decide whether I wanted to give up my job in Jamaica. I was afraid and paralyzed by the fear. I was reluctant to get out of my comfort zone. As I struggled internally with the decisions of accepting the job in the Cayman Islands and moving from Jamaica a very good friend of my wife and I told me “Mark, fortune is for the brave!” These are words that have stayed with me for the last ten years. I remember many years ago another very good family friend and mentor told me “Mark, we cannot live our lives in fear!” If we are afraid or if we live in our lives in fear life will pass us by and we will miss the joy of living. The fear of failure, the fear of rejection and the fear of criticism will limit our potential and cause us to under achieve. We therefore have to be bold, be courageous and be different.
In the spring of 1998 I moved my young family from Jamaica, the land of our birth, to the beautiful Cayman Islands. The thought of living and working away from home was trilling. However it was with much trepidation that my family and I left behind the life we knew that was filled and joyous memories with friends and families. I knew if I was going to pursue towards my goals and the goals of my young family I had to forgetting the things behind and stretch forward to the things ahead. As I plunge into the unknown little did I did not know that the single decision accept the job in the Cayman Islands was the start of career in financial sector supervision and regulation and a journey around the world. A journey that has so far taken me across the entire Caribbean region, parts of Africa and Asia. A journey that has seen me touring the Elmira Castle, the Point of No Return, in Ghana . It was also the commencement of an international career working for a number of regional and international agencies, financial institutions and governments and policymakers around the world.
It is journey that has taught me there is no need for us to continuously look at the things behind us when we have whole life ahead. I have heard Joel Osteen said this is the reason a car has a very big front windscreen and tiny rear view mirror. He said it is more important to our eyes on the road ahead while occasionally glancing on the things behind us. It does not mean we forget our experiences or our history which is guide for our present and our future. The ride will have bumps and we will get bruises. We will going through peaks and valleys but we should not let fear, uncertainty or doubt paralyze us.
Life for me has been a purely amazing journey. I remember one day in the 1970s I gave my cousin my shoes to wear to school because I wanted to experience walking bare feet to Huntley All Age School in rural Manchester, Jamaica. At that time I never dreamt that my journey would have taken to some of places I have travelled to and visited and some people I have met and cultures I have experienced. As vicious and as unkind as children can be to each other I had no fear that other students would probably teased me for I walking bare feet to school that day. And here I am today writing about it and do not even recall what happen at school that day.
My experience has taught me that if we are afraid or if we are consumed by fear we will fail to punch our weight, it will inhibit our goals and ambitions and we will be trapped in a "malaise of modesty". We need bold strategies to seize the abundance of opportunities that are available in the world today. To quote Walt Disney “all our dreams can come true, if we have the courage to pursue them”.
Although I was satisfied with my job in Jamaica, I had a dream that one day I would be on top of my field competing with the best and brightest anywhere in the world. I have big dreams and a big heart. However, I knew if I wanted to be successful, if I wanted to turn my dreams into reality I had to overcome my fears. I had to overcome the fear of failure. I had to be bold. I had to be brave and courageous rather than incapacitated or immobilised by fear. Successful people overcome their fear of failure. Fear incapacitates unsuccessful people. Winston Churchill said "Success is never final. Failure is never fatal. It is courage that counts."
On my journey I have learnt that there is no failure but rather an experience from which to learn and grow. Successful people look at mistakes as outcomes or results, not as failure. Unsuccessful people look at mistakes as permanent and personal. As a parent whatever I have learnt is as a consequence of trial and error experience on my part or by others. As humans we learn only through mistakes. We should not impose limits on ourselves or on what we can accomplish in our lives.
The single decision that I made back in 1998 and the road I have travelled since them has led me to where I am today. I am living a dream. In 2006, I made a bold and courageous decision and established Mark McKenzie Consulting. In doing so I had to learn to overcome fear, uncertainty and doubt. It is not an easy journey because along the way, many people attempted to dissuade me off his path. Fear, uncertainty and doubt are the most powerful weapon that will prevent you from reaching your lifetime goals. Fear, uncertainty and doubt are insidious and are often camouflaged or cloaked in messages that are designed to plant the seedlings of self-doubt and thus deter you from your dreams.
Fortune is indeed for the brave and I am finally learning how wealth is created. Ms Maud ’s grandson has achieved some of his personal goals and this has resulted in a sense of accomplishment and personal satisfaction. You too can achieve your goal by turning your dreams into reality. However, you have to learn how to identify the obstacles of goal derailment, which primarily consists of fear, uncertainty and doubt. You have to be bold. Be COURAGEOUS!
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