contributing writers: Calyse Garvey, Mitchell Turnball, Ashawn-taedo Phillips
(STT, October 2024). The island of STX is known world-wide for its beautiful white sandy beaches, jovial carnival activities and friendly residents. A graphic video, however, was widely circulated in early October that showcased an ugly, unruly side of Crucian life.
For many islanders, the images projected rare and unusually aggressive behavior of school children on the island. For others, the video validated their fears of a growing number of angry youth, frustrated and disillusioned by depressed socio-economics and corrupt political activities in the territory.
Yet another group of islanders, outraged by the incident argue that the youths involved should receive strict, harsh punishment. (https://www.facebook.com/viconsortium/posts/1994964407595179/
15 days after the 2024 fall semester began, in response to an impromptu boycott by teachers, frustrated by the lack of air conditioning in their classes, students at St. Croix Central were instructed to return home.
Shortly after early dismissal, a disturbing video circulated on social media. It showed footage of a violent attack of an elderly school bus driver by three teenage boys.
According to the victim, and driver of bus #27, a group of high school students were traveling from St. Croix Central High school to the Strawberry and East End when the incident occurred.
The situation as later reported by the bus driver happened after he parked and reprimanded the kids for using profanity and swear words. According to the driver, when the bus pulled up to the shanty near the Strawberry entrance a student getting off the bus spoke to him in a profane manner, using a common slur.
Allegedly, when the driver admonished the student about his language, he and two other boys, then proceeded to punch, kick, stomp and beat him.
The VIDE classified the incident as a serious Level IV Infraction, which includes charges of assault and battery and asserts that this type of behavior may be classified as life endangerment-to the driver as well as the other students on the bus.
This act of violence led to federal, potential felony and expulsion charges against the youth. Three of them were arrested; two were booked as minors and bailed out into the custody of their parents to await trial.
Caleave Nigel Mascall Jr. 18 was classified as an adult, and denied release. Judge Jessica Gallivan found probable cause to uphold charges of third-degree assault, damaging or tampering with a vehicle, and disturbance of the peace against Mascall and set his bail at $25,000. Because he was unable to pay he was remanded to jail for five months or until his trial date in March 2025.
Outrage was immediate and unanimous. Public sentiments were contrary to comments from Governor Bryan
Compared to violent school-related incidents of bus drivers throughout the mainland, the situation may be considered nominal, however public outrage was immediate and unanimous. Most disagreed with comments made by Governor Bryan two days before the horrific incident that student violence did not warrant a coordinated, cabinet-level response.
He responded to this issue during a weekly press briefing in October, “Our cabinet meetings are mostly focused on major items like Medicaid shortages, budget shortages.”
When pushed to explain this policy to curb school violence, he added, “I’m sure the Commissioner of Education is addressing that. If she felt it needed to rise to my level, she would have brought it to my attention.”
Many islands opposed this position taken by the governor and used social media to expres their concern. Described on FB as a ‘social justice warrior, collaborator and change agent, Virginia Persephone, of Fredericksted posted a response and said, “Unbelievable! Youth violence is up 22 percent. It’s clearly a symptom of a deeper systematic problem. And one that’s not isolated to schools. Mr. Bryan should expand his myopic viewpoints and do some reading about the impact of violence on the economy, education, social services, infrastructure, tourism, business development, healthcare, etc.”
UVI VOICE reached out numerous times to the Office of the Governor for comments and requests to amend his initial statements. As of the time of publication, no response has been received.
Youth violence is up 22 percent. It’s clearly a symptom of a deeper systematic problem…Virginia Persephone, of Fredericksted
Apparently, school officials agreed. Within hours of the bus incident the Virgin Islands Department of Education issued a statement on unacceptable violence on St. Croix school buses.
Their position appeared contradictory to the administration and warned that, “School bus transportation is a privilege, and it is the expectation of the VIDE that students abide by the rules and exhibit proper behavior when using these services. Recent incidents involving inappropriate student behavior on buses, including today’s incident, highlight a growing concern for safety that the Department is addressing.”
“School bus transportation is a privilege…” VIDE
Students, teachers, parents, and community members alike were aghast at this public display of violence and disrespect for authority. One life-long USVI resident summed up the sentiment of most of the public, “This [violence] is something that no Virgin Islander wants to hear or see happening in their community.”
“This [violence] is something that no Virgin Islander wants to hear or see happening in their community.”
These actions are examples of how the Virgin Islands handles violence especially youth violence. It also shows that in this instance there is a “no tolerance” behavioral mindset amongst the legal infrastructure of the USVI.
In addition to that, the bus drivers who were working on St. Croix did a collective action and refused to work for three days, following the attack to show their support of the bus driver who was fatally beaten.
General consensus among community members, school officials and school youth, is unanimous.
UVI student Mitchell Turnball said, “It is agreed that the community and the masses must bond together to stop violence and show their advocation against senseless acts of physical misconduct.”
“…the community and the masses must bond together to stop violence and show their advocation against senseless acts of physical misconduct.” UVI student, Mitchell Turnball.
The department strongly disproved the attack, emphasizing that the safety of staff and students is its top priority. “The VIDE condemns this behavior in the strongest possible terms and wants to make it absolutely clear that it has a zero-tolerance policy for violence of any kind. Such actions that endanger lives, whether of school staff or students, are entirely unacceptable.”
School Bus Drivers
In response to the attack, school bus services in St. Croix were suspended for several days due to safety concerns, affecting many families. The contracted bus provider, Abramson Enterprises, halted services as they negotiated with the Department of Education to ensure the safety of their drivers.
The Education Department restated its zero-tolerance policy for violence and emphasized the need for students to follow transportation rules, highlighting that bus transportation is a privilege.
In terms of broader discussions, comparing the situation in the USVI with mainland school violence can offer insight into how localized cultural factors play a role.
On the mainland, schools also face similar challenges, but the response from authorities and communities can differ based on resources, policies, and societal attitudes.
School bus violence is a significant concern both in the U.S. Virgin Islands (USVI) and the mainland United States. Here are the factors to compare between the USVI and the mainland United States.
1. Incidence and Scale
- USVI: Incidents of school bus violence, like the recent one in St. Croix, are often highlighted due to the smaller size of the community, making such events more visible and impactful. These incidents raise immediate questions about student behavior, respect for authority, and accountability.
- Mainland U.S.: School violence on buses is also a concern, but it often occurs on a larger scale due to the size and diversity of the population. Incidents range from bullying to physical altercations, and while they may receive media coverage, they can sometimes blend into broader discussions about school safety.
2.Cultural and Social Dynamics
- USVI: Localized cultural norms and smaller community ties can amplify the impact of violence. With more interconnected populations, the actions of students and the responses from families and authorities may carry heightened social consequences.
- Mainland U.S.: The cultural diversity and size of the mainland mean responses to violence can vary widely depending on the region, school district, and community resources. Some areas may have strong anti-bullying campaigns or security measures, while others may struggle with systemic issues.
3.Visibility and Awareness
- In both regions, social media and news coverage play a role in amplifying awareness and shaping public discourse about school violence. The USVI, being smaller, often experiences a more concentrated community reaction, while in the mainland, such incidents might become part of a broader national conversation.
