Coping skills should be incorporated with other subjects being taught in schools

Dear Editor, Thursday’s domestic violence that occurred at Limlair Village on the Corentyne was the last straw for me. I felt compelled not just to speak of the issue but also offer and highlight simple and practical solutions to this epidemic. I call it an epidemic because it is a widespread occurrence of an infectious disease in our community and that is the definition of an epidemic.

I believe what we see being manifested by the actions of some men almost daily, is the end result of men dreadfully lacking coping skills and not truly understanding their role. If you were to examine all the domestic violence cases that resulted in the demise of women, you will realize that domestic violence is not common only to a particular ethnicity or demographic. Instead, what is common is that in every case the man did not understand his role and failed to cope with the situation.

Men should have been equipped with this vital information, like so many other teachings they received, from a very young age. While many might argue that this should have been taught in the home, the almost daily heinous and callous acts being committed by men against women, tells that this is not happening.

The genesis of this epidemic, like I said is, lack of coping skills and men not knowing their roles. My question therefore is, why not address this from a tender age? There is a famous colloquial expression which says “you need to bend the tree while it is still young”. Coping skills and other practical life skills should be incorporated with the other subjects being taught in the school system.

While I am not trying in any way to undermine its importance, research would have shown that over 85% of people after leaving high school, do not utilize most of the theories they would have learnt in school, in their every-day living. However, 100% of persons leaving