Dear Editor,

I would like to start off with a famous quote: “The higher the monkey climbs, the more his tail is exposed”. I say this in reflecting on Kensington Primary School and how far the principal, Mrs Carla McCalla-Francis, and her team have improved the standard of the school. Why is it that when one accomplishes so much good, and something bad happens, it seems to override all the good that one has done? If one examines the progress of the Kensington Primary School over the years, it is evident that Mrs McCalla-Francis and her team have gone above and beyond the call of duty to lift the standard of the school and the performance of the students.

As the parent of a child who attends the school, I have had the opportunity to see the interaction between Mrs McCalla-Francis and her students and the interactions are always filled with love and respect. Mrs Francis is always the first to come to the defence of her students. She lovingly refers to them as her “babies” and implores us at PTA meetings to take care of our children.

When you read the articles posted online, you are led to believe that Mrs McCalla-Francis is a vicious person who is concerned only with ensuring that the students at the school maintain top grades so that she and the school can be glorified. On the contrary, at times it is the parents who want their children to be so successful that we (let me include myself) put pressure on our children to do just.

Let me say I understand the negative effects of corporal punishment. There are cases where corporal punishment has resulted in children becoming physically and emotionally scarred. However, I do not believe that Mrs McCalla-Francis or her teachers are in any way harming these students.

Have we stopped to assess what could be behind the recent complaint? I urge the ministry to exercise due diligence while at the same time protecting the interest and image of the Kensington Primary School, so that the everything that this very dedicated woman and her staff have done is not dragged in the mud or suddenly forgotten.

What is better, a run-down primary school with no corporal punishment or a well-run school that gives a few slaps in the hand? I tend to prefer the latter!

Shackeria Johnson-Lewis

Spanish Town

shackeria.lewis@gmail.com