I take this opportunity to thank Mark Wignal, writing in the Jamaica Observer, and Peter Espeut, in The Gleaner, for their very kind words in their respective articles titled ‘Stick it to them, Minister Thwaites’ (February 1, 2015) and ‘Systemically creating losers’ (February 6, 2015) as they reacted to the education minister’s statement that he intends to take action against the practice of our schools “buying” youngsters for sports purposes. Let’s hope that the minister follows through with his promise, since appropriate action from the ministry will severely curtail, if not end, this very vulgar and dastardly behaviour — another case of deviant behaviour becoming the norm. This will serve to help temper the fervour of the fanatical sports enthusiasts, who seem to forget, or will not see, that our schools are not sports academies or the developmental arms of our various sports associations. Indeed, a small step in the right direction.

However, we need to remember that “buying” athletes, of which the Minister spoke, is but one tawdry negative aspect in a sea of negatives associated with the business of our schools recruiting for sport purposes in an attempt to influence the outcome of sporting events between schools. There are many other negative consequences which result from bringing youngsters into schools based on sports prowess, some of which were cited in both articles mentioned above, and others which I have articulated on innumerable occasions. I reiterate that the practice, in general, sends the wrong messages to our youngsters with respect to, among other things, the purpose and emphasis of school, self-belief and confidence, self-reliance, fair play, institutionalised injustice and trust. Sport recruiting is also inimical to fostering the positive mindset that ability and competence grow with effort. It elevates sports from the obvious and unquestionable secondary role it should have in school to a primary one. We cannot serve two masters.

Recently, Dennis Edmunds, a legal luminary, one of the great minds produced by Jamaica, passed away. Among other distinguished accomplishments, Edmunds was the 1961 Jamaica Scholar — one of six consecutive Jamaica Scholars nurtured by St George’s College. It struck me that there was no stir, no din, no fanfare that such a tremendous intellect, who gave yeoman service in law and had helped to keep the Jamaica ship afloat with his sage advice at critical times, and with whose presence we were fortunate to have been graced, was transitioning. It is citizens like Edmunds who would have been pivotal if Jamaica is to make it out of the quagmire in which we now find ourselves. It is our brightest, most creative minds that will save us, not sportsmen or entertainers, although they too have their place. Yet, it would be a much bigger deal with greater fuss and rattling if a “baller” or athlete kicked the bucket.

Are our priorities so skewed, and how we treat with sports in schools a symptom of those skewed priorities? Should we be making moves to get our priorities right? Changing our approach to sport in schools would help in this regard by clearly and unambiguously focusing our young citizens on learning, putting greater value on getting a proper basic education, and being properly socialised. If the development of intellect, first-class technical skills, and proper socialisation are going to be emphasised in the society then education must be the story Jamaica tells about itself. If and when we do reach that stage, people like Edmunds will get their just rewards in terms of recognition and status.

In December of 2014 the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development published the results of research which showed that income inequality has a statistically significant impact on economic growth. The greater the inequality, the more difficult is growth. It also found that underinvestment by low-income groups in formal education makes inequality worse.

Schools are our institutions specialised to deliver formal education to the masses. Let us use them for such and stop diluting, corrupting and polluting their mission by this heavy focus on winning at sport in schools. Schools are not the place for developing professional sporting talent. We are boring a bigger hole in the Jamaica ship if we continue with this misguided, counterproductive policy and action.

Dr Lascelve “Muggy” Graham former Jamaica football captain.