Bishop Gibson High School For Girls

Founded: January 1962 by The Rt Rev Percival William Gibson, former Bishop of Jamaica

Address: 3 Newleigh Road, Mandeville, Manchester

Principal: M Valencia Honeyghan

Bishop Gibson High School for Girls sits on a sloping hill in the cool Manchester capital. The environs are tranquil and welcoming. The school of over 900 young ladies and approximately 40 teachers, boasts a new sixth form programme and some peculiar rules. This, and gender issues in education, are the substance of the discussion with the head girl.

HEAD GIRL: Abigail Senior

DOB: September 8, 1999

CAREER ASPIRATION: Independent children’s lawyer/ potential media personality/ whatever else the Lord says

Reason: I have a grave concern about the future generation’s welfare because in our society it’s quite evident that many of our youngsters are facing serious physical, emotional, verbal, and sexual abuse and also neglect and therefore, I really would love to contribute to protecting and defending their well-being.

I don’t believe in settling for just one career though because there are so many more options that one can pursue, which makes you more marketable, and so being a media personality would definitely be a career that I know I would enjoy and certainly perform well at.

C&E: Tell us about your school

C&E: Tell us about your school

AS: The main objective of Bishop Gibson High School is to train young ladies to the highest calibre to become independent, strong leaders of the future with exceptionally high standards; ladies who will become positive world changers. The school is relatively small so the majority of the students are familiar with each other. We have the most dynamic academic, administrative and ancillary staff who are very caring and supportive of the well-being of each student. Our principal, Mrs Honeyghan, and vice-principal, Mrs McBean, both ensure that the school runs efficiently and smoothly. Academically, we do extremely well, especially at the CSEC level. Last year, we placed fifth in the island for best CSEC results.

The discipline level is indeed superb as we have several layers of student leadership which include prefects, sub-prefects, mentors, peer counsellors, form captains, deputy form captains, student council representatives, duty monitors. etc. We aim to live up to our motto:

Per ardua ad astra — through difficulties we attain the highest — because we deem ourselves as the best high school in Jamaica and might I say, the world.

C&E: Tell us about some of the interesting rules at your school.

C&E: Tell us about some of the interesting rules at your school.

AS: We are groomed to behave as proper young ladies and so we are expected to follow several rules, for example, no fast food is allowed on campus, no sweets or chewing gum are allowed, our uniforms must be three inches below our knees, there is no vending, no ‘pardners’ (money-saving schemes) are allowed, students must not be seen in fast food restaurants, supermarkets, food courts, etc, in their uniforms, and no sodas are allowed on the compound.

C&E: Why do you think it is important for young people to safeguard their health?AS: It is important for young people to safeguard their health so that they can function more efficiently; they’ll feel good about themselves, be more alert, and when they practise a healthy lifestyle from now, we will have a healthier, more vibrant and productive future generation.C&E: Do you think it is the place of schools to regulate students’ health, and what are the benefits of this?

C&E: Why do you think it is important for young people to safeguard their health?

AS: It is important for young people to safeguard their health so that they can function more efficiently; they’ll feel good about themselves, be more alert, and when they practise a healthy lifestyle from now, we will have a healthier, more vibrant and productive future generation.

C&E: Do you think it is the place of schools to regulate students’ health, and what are the benefits of this?

AS: Frankly, students spend the majority of their hours at school and so, I believe if the school is able to encourage and promote a healthy lifestyle then they most definitely should do so. The benefits are that children will become more responsible for their well-being by choosing the right food to eat and exercising regularly. These will help to keep them more focused and improve their learning skills. They’ll also produce better work at school.

C&E: Do you think that the Ministry of Education should ban junk food in schools?

C&E: Do you think that the Ministry of Education should ban junk food in schools?

AS: No, I do not believe so. However, I think they could make an extra effort in sensitising students at various institutions about the importance and benefits of eating healthily. I think there should also be some balance… we are young people so at some point in time we will want to enjoy junk food but in moderation because of the knowledge we would have received.

C&E: Do you think that schools are replacing homes as agents of socialisation with these non-academic rules?

C&E: Do you think that schools are replacing homes as agents of socialisation with these non-academic rules?

AS: No, not at all. The school is very much like a home away from home. It’s a learning institution which assists with the molding of our nation’s children. It’s not about replacing, it’s about creating a partnership with the home to direct and guide our youngsters in a positive way.

C&E: Changing the wheels a bit: What are some of your responsibilities as head girl?AS: I’m responsible for overseeing the prefect body which ensures that the discipline of the school is maintained at all times. I am called upon at times to represent the school internally and externally. I am a mentor for students. I am also responsible for overseeing fund-raisers put on by the prefect body. I am expected to report any incident or altercation to the relevant authorities and in general, to be a role model at all times.C&E: What are some of the challenges that are unique to female students?

C&E: Changing the wheels a bit: What are some of your responsibilities as head girl?

AS: I’m responsible for overseeing the prefect body which ensures that the discipline of the school is maintained at all times. I am called upon at times to represent the school internally and externally. I am a mentor for students. I am also responsible for overseeing fund-raisers put on by the prefect body. I am expected to report any incident or altercation to the relevant authorities and in general, to be a role model at all times.

C&E: What are some of the challenges that are unique to female students?

AS: Well, girls are very emotional at times and so they are easily flustered and overwhelmed for different reasons. They oftentimes feel that there is a need to argue points straight to the end. They can be very difficult to settle in especially after lunch hour. For some, it might be difficult to relate to the opposite sex easily.

C&E: How do you deal with these issues?

C&E: How do you deal with these issues?

AS: We refer individuals to the guidance counsellor, for example, or to peer counsellors and mentors. We have presentations from outsiders who engage the girls and also our teachers on ‘life’ topics to help us overcome some of these challenges.

C&E: What are your views on single-sex schools?

C&E: What are your views on single-sex schools?

AS: I think just like any other school, single-sex schools have their share of advantages and disadvantages. The main advantage is that there is very little distraction because there are no males/females around. On the other hand, single-sex schools are disadvantageous when it comes to socialising with the opposite sex. It may be a bit awkward, especially for girls.

C&E: Do you think that Government should set different guidelines for all-boys vs all-girls schools?

C&E: Do you think that Government should set different guidelines for all-boys vs all-girls schools?

AS: I believe that the Government should assess the needs that are unique to each sex and then make an analysis and thereby implement the necessary guidelines to suit them. This will definitely help both groups.

C&E: What do you think is the major difference in teaching boys vs girls?

C&E: What do you think is the major difference in teaching boys vs girls?

AS: I think that girls are easier to control and tend to be more focused. Girls will easily express how they are feeling whilst boys will recluse.

C&E: Do you think this affects academic performance? If so, how?AS: Yes, to an extent because girls, being generally more focused than boys, will do better academically.C&E: What, in your view, are the major issues affecting young women in Jamaica?AS: In my opinion, I think a lot of young women have not fully accepted their true identity as beautiful, independent, strong black women. They are still trapped in mental slavery and fail to believe in working hard and achieving their goals. Society dictates a certain look and so they feel they have to adapt this culture in order to fit in. I also think that there is a challenge in that young ladies are not being taught by their families the essence of being dignified young ladies in society. They feel any behaviour is acceptable. They are also being constantly undermined and seen as inferior to males, which further lowers their self-esteem.

C&E: Do you think this affects academic performance? If so, how?

AS: Yes, to an extent because girls, being generally more focused than boys, will do better academically.

C&E: What, in your view, are the major issues affecting young women in Jamaica?

AS: In my opinion, I think a lot of young women have not fully accepted their true identity as beautiful, independent, strong black women. They are still trapped in mental slavery and fail to believe in working hard and achieving their goals. Society dictates a certain look and so they feel they have to adapt this culture in order to fit in. I also think that there is a challenge in that young ladies are not being taught by their families the essence of being dignified young ladies in society. They feel any behaviour is acceptable. They are also being constantly undermined and seen as inferior to males, which further lowers their self-esteem.