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Editorial
Relinquishing church control of schools
Thursday, September 09, 2010
The Ministry of Education is, quite understandably, very shy about interfering or appearing to interfere with church-run schools, even when they operate with substantial support from the government's coffers.
In this regard, the current Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) administration has not departed from the approach by the previous People's National Party (PNP) administrations.
It is clearly a not unexpectedly 'ticklish' matter, as evidenced by the dispute at The Queen's School over the selection of a new headmistress. Or put another way, the failure to appoint the acting headmistress, on denominational grounds. The Queen's School is run by the Anglican Diocese.
This is by no means an isolated case, and even though church control of schools has been gradually diminishing, is not one which is going to disappear overnight. Similar problems have surfaced at Kingston College, another Anglican-run school, to cite a well known example.
In the present case, Ms Carole Jackson is said to have been passed over for headmistress for someone else, after acting for the last two years in the capacity, and previously serving as vice-principal for 10 years.
Protesters, though few in number, insist that Ms Jackson is fit and properly qualified for the job and claim that the decision is based on denominational considerations, because she is not of the Anglican persuasion.
We do not weigh into the issue to tell anybody what to do in resolving the dispute but moreso to draw attention to a matter which is likely to keep recurring in our scheme of democratic governance.
There is great sentiment on the side of the church because of its glorious past in bringing education to the Jamaican masses, long before the government could. Hence, there is reluctance to break with hallowed tradition in which many churches still have a big say in how schools, even when financed by the State, are run.
It may well be a case of if it's not broke, don't fix it. Church-run schools have worked for the large part, which is perhaps why the education ministry allows then to pick the principal in several cases, including The Queen's School.
Still, the idea that someone who has served well and is qualified can't make the cut because of denominational considerations, is increasingly being frowned upon.
It is difficult to explain why, for example, Ms Jackson can serve for two years as acting headmistress and 10 years as vice-principal, but is suddenly not acceptable as principal.
Part of the difficulty is that the Anglican Diocese, as against the Seventh-day Adventists, is seen to be more democratic and even liberal in its outlook.
Furthermore, the Anglicans are part of the ecumenical-minded Jamaica Council of Churches, and unless Ms Jackson is an atheist or a member of a non-Christian religion — in which case she should not have been appointed to act as headmistress — there is little reason, on the surface, to now reject her application.
We need to have the conversation about criteria for principals and to decide whether those criteria should include partisan considerations, including church membership.
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9/21/2010
The student / parent hardly cares whether the school is run by a church or not ...as long as it is a " brand name" school. In any case, it is questionable whether those schools results in a morally better society producing people of integrity and honour.
I would bet that 99% of our politicians went to schools run by churches!
9/12/2010
The church should run the church
9/11/2010
The power of the church was exhibited in Montego Bay when a principal refused to enroll a student upon the orders of the bishop. The principal merely added the students name to a list. That wasn't good enough. Since then, they've replaced the Principals at their Prep and High schools with members of their faith who'd jump to the orders of the Bishop.
WOW!!!
9/11/2010
So because the Anglican diocese decides that after acting for two years as principal and 10 years as vice-principal, Mrs. Jackson is not to be confirmed as principal the sky is falling in and church schools are to be passed over to government. .
I have news for them. In government people act for decades and are not even appointed. In the private commercial sector it is not much better.
Why are we so controversial in JA. and seek to make mountains out of molehills or is it the media?
9/9/2010
The gov't still holds part of the blade. These schools could easily play hardball to continue employing persons on religious grounds by saying to gov't "keep your money" we will simply cut numbers! When these schools start to take in 1/5 of the students they would have otherwise, you'll see how fast gov't lets them do what they want! Why? Because the gov't doesn't have the money to build enough new state schools to service the demand that would arise.
9/9/2010
As I see it, if the school is funded by Jamaican taxpayers' money, and not by tuition fees and private donations, they cannot be "church schools." The taxpayers are funding them, so religion should not pay any role in decision-making. If you want to have "Anglican schools" (I actually went to one), then let the Anglican Church fund these institutions. Same for the other denominations.
9/9/2010
Eric Junior, I think the issue is not the rules or policy but the fact that the schools receive significant gov't contribution. Some Catholic and I would say all SDA schools are private institutions.
9/9/2010
In Jamaica,church, was like part of school, we say prayers,@auditorium, and the good ole religion, was always there.
9/9/2010
Though i am far from being religious, I still support religious schools as people should have free choice in which environment they want to be educated. But if it is a government funded school then all religious associations should be abandoned permanently.
This story will soon die as the gov. will refuse to resolve the matter as it being religiously motivated they will not want the masses to turn against them...
9/9/2010
@ Garnet Weir
I chose to ignore the comment about Anglican churches being more democratic than SDAs. Obviously the Editor knows very little about the SDA Church. Besides, even if the SDA Church was "attacked" by the Observer, there is no need to respond, the Church must FOCUS on it's mission of preaching the gospel and getting a people ready for Christ's return. Ignore critics.
9/9/2010
I have encouraging news for Mr. Apostle. There is a high level of success in removing God and "religion" from society. Society continues to decline in - as you say - ethics. Soon, God will be totally removed from schools, and you will be happy with your world of "no ethics'?
Can you imagine how many less unwanted children we would have if we we all "brainwashed" in the doctrine of "Thou shalt not commit adultery?" What if we were "brainwashed" into "Thou shalt not kill." High murder rate?
9/9/2010
Why point out the Queens school and the Anglicans? Isnt this the practice at all the other Church run schools all over the island? The Catholics are huge on this one. Seventh Day Adventists wont change their policy. Whats new??? As for the acting thing... its "acting", clearly the existing policy which dictates who gets the Prinicpal's position meant that "acting" is exactly what it is, "ACTING"
9/9/2010
@Mr. Apostate. I agree with you entirely. I only want to add that if it is a privately funded school they can choose anyone they want. In the case of church schools which are funded by tax payers, why bother to have an interview process that appears to be fair & impartial? Isnt it discrimination to have the best person pushed aside for an unwritten criteria? The Edu Act & Regulations are clear on the interview & selection guidelines. Nowhere in the doc does it say that religion is a criteria
9/9/2010
The government cannot and should not transfer this authority to a church irregardless of the pivotal role churches played in the development of education. The fact that these schools are funded by taxpayers is reason enough to vigorously reject discrimination on denominational and religious grounds. If in fact the veteran educator and administrator at The Queen's was overlooked because she is not Anglican, the time is right for us to settle this (constitutional) issue in the courts.
9/9/2010
Your comment that the Anglican church is more democratic than the Seventh-day Adventists exposes your ignorance of how SDA schools relate to the Ministry of Education.
He who pays the piper should rightly call the tune, but Government does not pay the piper in this case.
Teachers in traditional High Schools run by Catholics, Anglicans, Moravians, United Church etc, are paid by subventions from the Ministry of Education. Not so SDA schools which do not apply for or receive such subventions.
9/9/2010
If you’re promoting based on merit, then why not atheists? It's time to remove religion from the classroom entirely, after all the government (i.e. taxpayers including theist and atheists) is (are) footing the majority of the bill. Churches use this opportunity to thoroughly brainwash kids into believing in an imaginary guy-in-the-sky. Remove fairy tales like religion and substitute then with ethics, science, reason and commonsense.
9/9/2010
I disagree totally. History has shown whenever the church gives total control to the government the school begin to decline. Check the top 10 high school and you will see a strong church influences. Its no accident! Why fix it if its not broken?
9/9/2010
The reason we have different Christian churches is because the churches have different doctrines. It may seem like discrimination, but I have no problem with an Anglican school CHOOSING to have an Anglican Principal. On the other hand, we need to lose the notion that if someone has acted in a position, they are "entitled" to that position. I acted as Assistant Manager once, but the person who got the job was more qualified. Should I have made a fuss? I was ACTING. The job was not MINE.
9/9/2010
We are living in a very secular society, so any standard set to reflex Christianity will come under some degree of scrutiny. The Queen's board has put themselves into an awkward position by not appointing Ms Jackson as principal. As a Christian run school, there are certain lifestyles and other principles that are going to be thrown in the mix. Still, she has served in positions that naturally leads to the top. Who fell asleep at the wheel? Did she knew long ago and accepted this position?
9/9/2010
Well educate me. Aren't sisters still principals of Mt. Alvernia and Immaculate? If a so di ting set a so it set. Lesson is do not let them use you in an acting place. If you feel you need to do it use it as experience.
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