SIX educators, who together have served the public school system for close to 220 years, are to be honoured by Seaward Primary and Junior High School next month.

The teachers, who left the service as senior teachers, vice-principals or acting principals, include:

* Vinnette Guthrie, who served the teaching profession for 42 years, with 39 of those years spent at Seaward;

* Joy Anderson, who has done 39 years in the service, 33 of them at Seaward;

* Elizabeth Forrest-Samuels, who did 34 years in the service, all of them at Seaward;

* Rebecca Stewart, who did 34 years in the system, 31 of them at Seaward;

* Millicent McPherson Alexander, who served the education system for 37 years, 33 of them at Seaward; and

* Patsy Williams, who did 32 years in the service, 29 of them at Seaward.

“When we looked at the contribution they have made, we had to honour them, not just for the years of service, but also for the commitment and dedication (they showed to the profession). Everybody benefitted from them,” vice-principal Maizie Henry told Career & Education.

“They gave of themselves. Miss Guthrie, for example, was “mother” to many of them (students). They served unselfishly; they just gave. And when we look at it, it was not just the children they helped but also colleagues and members of the community,” added Henry, who has herself served the teaching profession for 33 years now.

The ceremony to honour the educators will be staged at Altamont Court Hotel in Kingston on December 16, bringing together the six veterans and all those who have benefited from having known them.

They will, among other things, be read citations, given cash rewards for their contribution to the education system and be treated to an entertainment package in their honour.

“We think it’s going to be fun,” said Henry, who is co-ordinating the event.