Schools need more parental, community support

Saturday, November 07, 2009 12:49 PM

Columns

KEN CHAPLIN

Tuesday, June 16, 2009

There has been a tendency in Jamaica for some time now for government and parents to blame teachers for the poor performance of children in many primary and secondary schools instead of emphasising that government, teachers, parents and the community must share the responsibility for quality education.

KEN CHAPLIN

Government must provide the best possible conditions in school, teachers must use their professional ability to the utmost, parents must insist that children do their homework, must support teachers to the maximum, and the community must take more than a passing interest in the school.

What is taking place now in many primary and secondary schools is a disgrace, not only to the schools but to the country as a whole. Teachers say that students are using cell phones in class, parents harrass and assault teachers for disciplining their children, "schoolers" take dangerous weapons to school and are not afraid to use these to harm other children and teachers, children buy and sell drugs on the school premises and talk about sex in class, no matter what subject is being taught. Parents allow their children to develop into video maniacs at home, neglecting their homework, yet blame teachers for students' poor performance.

Few people want to admit it, but the indiscipline in secondary schools began when the Common Entrance Examination was introduced. It enabled many children from the ghettoes to enter secondary schools. I am not saying that there were not well-behaved children from the ghettoes and there were not undisciplined children from the middle and upper class, but the indiscipline grew rapidly as more and more children from the ghettoes entered. It is something we have to live with as we try to provide equal educational opportunity for all. However, we must take steps to bring the situation under control.

MARTIN... don't be afraid to pursue your dreams

The behaviour in the classroom and on premises is having a deleterious effect on teachers - there are some who are prepared to end their professional career. One retired teacher told me that if she were younger she would not choose teaching as a professional career. The responsibility to change the present situation rests not only on government and teachers but also on parents and the community. The situation, if allowed to continue, could have disastrous results on the social and economic fabric of the country in years to come.

"Jamerican" makes waves in USA

Sherrie-Ann Martin, a Jamaican American, delivered the student oration at the graduation of the predominantly white Villanova University in Villanova, Pennsylvania, recently. The oration was hailed by some faculty members as one of the best in the recent history of the university. One faculty member in his address described the speech as "awesome".

Miss Martin began by posing questions to the other graduates. How will we differentiate ourselves to our communities, countries and the world? Are we just going to blend in? Are we comfortable in settling with just the ordinary? "I dare you all today," she continued, " to be on the offensive as you determine in every core of your being to allow this first step to help facilitate living dangerously extraordinary lives. I know dangerous and extraordinary sound like an oxymoron .

"After all, the dictionary associates 'dangerous' with 'hazardous' and 'treacherous', while 'extraordinary' is affixed with words like 'exceptional', 'remarkable' and 'trotting places where others deem impossible'.

But let us consider 'dangerous' in positive terms such as 'daring' and 'reaching for the sky'. Just imagine how these seemingly polar forces could work beneficially within us. The residual impact of such a violent explosion is bound to create a paradigm shift for the advancement of our society, especially at such a time as this."

Sherrie-Ann said that President Obama proclaimed that "this is our moment, this is our time. So, my fellow graduates, America needs you and me to take up our position and stare impossibility in its face and create possibilities for our communities."

She said that for the past several years, Villanova University has been preparing students for such bold steps. "Our seal," she said, "is our daily reminder of Villanova's proclamation of Veritas, Unitas, Caritas - truth, unity and love - three valuable virtues that are deeply interconnected to perpetuate us leading a dangerously extraordinary life." After expanding on how these virtues can impact upon the lives of graduates, she implored them to feel destined for greatness and as clichéd as that may sound, to realise that they all have potential. They should not be afraid to pursue their dreams and strive for the very best and to live a life filled with and motivated by compassion for others.

Sherrie-Ann graduated with the Bachelor of Science degree in chemical engineering. She is the daughter of Mr and Mrs Michael Martin, Jamaican immigrants.

Michael was educated at Kingston College and the University of the West Indies, St Augustine, Trinidad and Tobago.

If you were to grade Derick Latibeaudiere's performance over his 13 years as Bank of Jamaica governor, what grade would he get?
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