Dear Editor,

I fully agree with your columnist Ken Chaplin that teachers should come “under the same umbrella” as other public servants. There is no rhyme or reason why they should be exempt from the rules concerning public servants and participation in political matters. In fact, their position in the classrooms of this country make them potentially more capable of influencing and brainwashing those in their charge.

For many decades the Jamaica Teachers’ Association has managed to get itself a reputation for political bias and recent events do nothing to alter this perception. Concerning their leaders’ latest foray into the political arena, I think it is about time that these chronically disgruntled members of the JTA be told that their obligations to the taxpayers do not include unsolicited advice to prime ministers on the composition of their Cabinets. Their public scolding of the prime minister is a piece of effrontery that should not be tolerated by the people who pay them to teach and not to preach or over-reach.

Personally, I knew it would come to this — the day that the recent administration allowed itself to be questioned and cowed after the then minister of education had appointed someone of his choosing to assist him in carrying out his responsibilities to the electorate. Bullies of whatever sort are never appeased by apologies and pacification. They simply grow more obstreperous and insufferable.

If the JTA leaders had taken time to read, understand and be guided by the Constitution, they might have taken to heart Section 77, which reads:

“Subject to the provisions of this Constitution, the Governor-General acting in accordance with the advice of the Prime Minister may, by directions in writing charge any Minister who is a member of the House of Representatives with the responsibility for any subject or any department of the government.”

Nowhere is it written that teachers or any other special interest group should be consulted before the people’s elected representatives proceed to carry out their constitutional responsibilities. It is provided that we the people will pass judgement at election time, and even teachers have a duty to recognise this fact

Ken Jones

kensjones2002@yahoo.com