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Proactive approaches can curb graffiti

Several letter writers and the general public have raised concern over schools being vandalized, especially this time of year.

I believe the graffiti and vandalism reflect the contributions and recognitions that these vandals lacked during school.

Students that have failed to mark their personal contributions in their school community find themselves with fewer and fewer days to achieve this goal, primarily in June, and as a result manifest their displeasure through cans of spray paint.

Students that have found the time to join clubs, teams, and other means of contributing to their school will be less likely to vandalize their school because they have already been recognized as people that matter and endorse that this is their school.

Essentially, the cans of spray paint, the endeavour at midnight, etc., is all a cry out for help.

As teachers, we allow our students many outlets to be acknowledged and appreciated, but the students must be willing to persevere and achieve their own success.

This is not to say, however, that students who have difficulty achieving success are vandals, rather, these students may require support and more importantly a sense of belonging which will eventually diminish their desire to vandalize their school.

Hence, this is a primary reminder for all of us that proactive measures are more likely to create success and a sense of fellowship amongst these young impressionable students, as opposed to reactive measures such as a school suspensions, further alienating those who need us the most.

Lucky Virk

Surrey