Reprinted from Jamaica Gleaner
The parents of students at long-standing rivals Kingston College (KC) and Calabar High School have embarked on a partnership, which they believe will go a far way in mitigating the decades-old strife between the all-boys' schools.
A Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) was signed on September 19, 2013 by Presidents Stewart Jacobs and Mark Bowen of the respective Parent Teachers’ Associations (PTA).
"The parents of KC and Calabar have decided to remove the stigma that there is some ongoing, long-standing dispute between the schools, which is really strong, friendly sporting rivalry," said Stewart Jacobs, president of the KC Parent-Teacher Association.
Students of both schools have, on several occasions, clashed at different locations across the Corporate Area, including at the transportation centre, resulting in injuries; however, Stewart said the initiative would help the boys at both institutions to understand the concept of friendly rivalry.
Mark Bowen, president of the Calabar High School PTA, said the effort would help "both schools understand that rivals don't mean enemies, and the young men need to understand that the schools were friends before and friends after".
A collaborative week of events will include two church services, one at the KC Chapel on North Street and the other at the Boulevard Baptist Church. Approximately 700 pupils from the schools will form a circle around the Half-Way Tree Transport Centre as a sign of solidarity on November 8.