Our social values are crumbling. It is particularly evident in our schools. In a press release dated 23rd April 2026 the Department of Education referenced three videos circulating on social media depicting female students of the Albena Lake-Hodge Comprehensive School (ALHCS) engaging in inappropriate behaviour, including physical altercations and other conduct that falls well below the standards expected within our schools and wider community.
The press release noted that the behaviour was deeply concerning. It was stated to not only be a breach of the rules and expectations outlined in the ALHCS Student Handbook, but to also run counter to the values of respect, discipline, and personal responsibility the education system seeks to instil.
The press release references expected standards and values that are sought to be instilled. What are the standards expected and values being instilled within our schools and wider community? Are parents and community members on the same page as the education system in relation to the expected standards and the values sought to be instilled by our education system?
Our response to occasions of poor conduct by Anguilla’s representatives with national implications suggest that we are not all minded to hold persons to high standards in their conduct. Many persons sought to excuse the conduct of a minister of government, when in 2023 she engaged in violence and foul language in a public place and it was widely shared via social media. The excuse that she was only human was put forward by many persons from varied walks of life. The minister continued in office with no sanction.
More recently members of our Men’s Under-20 National Football Team engaged in acts of violence during a match against Guyana resulting in sanctions by the Concacaf Disciplinary Committee. It is unclear whether sanctions have been applied at the national level by the Anguilla Football Association, but what is clear is that many Anguillians took to social media seeking to excuse the conduct of the young men who engaged in acts of violence or to beg for understanding for them.
In our communities acts of domestic violence against women are sometimes explained or sought to be justified on the basis that the woman was unfaithful or that she had left the man after all he had done for her. Many discussions appear to suggest that the man was justified in those circumstances in physically assaulting a woman.
Are the responses described above instances of poor conduct, reflective of the standards we expect within our schools and wider community? Are we signalling, with our responses, that poor conduct, including violent acts and foul language, is acceptable? If there are no consequences for poor conduct, it is likely to continue unchecked. If poor conduct is excused or celebrated it is likely to be repeated. Our tolerance for poor conduct and our willingness to excuse it serves to promote it.
Prisoners, while being punished for criminal acts, are usually subjected to rehabilitative measures. To ensure that poor conduct is punished does not equate to the eternal condemnation of the individuals who engage in poor conduct. It does however convey the message that their poor conduct was unacceptable and will not be condoned, while any rehabilitative measures are undertaken.
Our responses to poor conduct send messages to the perpetrators. If we persist in excusing or tolerating poor conduct, we should accept some blame for the crumbling of our social standards and values.
