Is being independent too much to ask for?

One of the perspectives that was embedded in the then status quo, the then culture, was that women were ‘inferior’ to men and their place was in the home – taking care of the children and the household. While women do this, the men will work and ‘bring in the money.’ Women began to fight for gender equality and to be independent, as such, our culture has evolved and women can now work and provide for themselves independent of the man.

Today, we see women being CEOs, Prime Ministers, and Managers etc. The debate as to whether or not women should be doing male dominated jobs has been eradicated – never to be revived again. For women have proved to men that any job a man can do, they can do it too and, even better – silencing the critics. Additionally, women have also dominated the education sector. When I entered college, I was told that the male to female ratio was 1:6. Imagine that! There are more females graduating from high schools, colleges, and universities than their male counterparts.

I respect an independent woman; I am not and will never be threatened by an independent woman. I love the idea of women being independent. Though I personally believe that men should be the leader of their households, over the years, women have played that role pretty well. Though the bible refers to women as the ‘weaker vessel’, I have to acknowledge that women do have some ‘balls,’ (pun intended). When I examine our current status quo, though I have no research or study to substantiate my opinion, I wonder if women are innately dependent or it’s just human beings in general.

Out of my high school class of about fifty of us, of which about thirty plus being females, to my knowledge, neither of them have a tertiary education and I can literally count on my fingers how much haven’t had a child. Nothing is wrong with having a child, but when they keep having children, putting their education on pause, would it not result in them being ‘dependent’ on a man? When I see young girls successfully graduated from high school, have the opportunity to get an education and they choose instead to get pregnant, would they not be dependent on a man? If they are not working, who takes care of them and the child? The man! The way things are going now, you might need qualifications to merely baby sit.

Minimum wage cannot do a thing. When you have to pay bills, buy food, send children to school, and with food prices going sky high, what can five thousand dollars a week do? When our young girls see the implications of being dependent, even from others, how come they choose that type of lifestyle? Why not follow the footsteps of successful women who have trod the independent path? I have become weary of seeing teenage girls throwing their lives away. Not because the man can “gi yuh a likkle ting” doesn’t mean you are obligated to give him a child, and therefore give up your opportunity of being independent.

I am not saying that young girls have not had children and yet they manage to be independent – I have seen it. But why choose a life of dependency when you have the strength, power and much to offer the world? I know there is a reason why many young girls chose to go to universities and colleges rather than having five children for five different men. Teenage pregnancy is a major social ill, it has its implications, but in most cases, it results in teenage girls living a life of dependency. Young ladies, you are more than that, so please start acting as such. Sometimes when I see women above age thirty being pregnant, it looks weird, out of place. But I will not accept young teenage girls being fooled by material things and get captured, sometimes by the scammer youth.

To my young girls: you are special, you can achieve much more, and you have so much strength, power and vigor, waiting to be unleashed. Please be independent, get an education, stop being misled, believe it or not, “pickey nah hold man again.” Set your priorities straight, it’s good to have children, but its better when you can provide for them and take care of yourself. Young men, nuh feel nuh way, nuff respect mi brethren, but I have to empower our women. Please, be independent!       

Kenroy Davis is an educator and commentator on social issues. Email feedback to: kenroy.davis20@gmail.com

No Dr. Nicely, "wheel and come again"

JTA President, Dr. Mark Nicely has instructed the nation's teachers to disregard the Ministry of Education's master book list. He stated that if teachers are sanctioned by the ministry, the JTA will defend them. While his rationale is important, I think he is going about this the wrong way, and, it speaks a lot about him as leader.

With reference to a media report, the president said, “My recommendation, frankly, is that you are to proceed until you are apprehended, and when you are apprehended, the Jamaica Teachers' Association will be there to treat with the matter.” So, is that to say students should disobey school rules because they know their parents will defend them, if it is that they disagree with the school’s rules? What kind of backwardness is that for leader? We need to mindful of what we say, and how we go about dealing with situations.

Mr. Nicely also stated that teachers were the experts and they should do what they believe is best for the students in their classrooms. This is very much true, no one book contains all the information, and it is fair enough if teachers recommend books that they believe will provide quality content that is resourceful to students. But, teachers should also dialogue with the parents and as such come to an agreement. we also cannot ignore the fact that teachers are recommending books that are never used and that in and of itself, must stop. For, it is burdening the parents who can hardly support their children.

When I was in primary school, I see students with books that were never used in class. As educators, we have to be mindful of our status quo, and the very fact that times are tough, jobs are scarce, and parents cannot afford it. And, we cannot ignore inquiries of parents, rules and policies set by the Ministry. What example are we setting for those who are looking to us to lead them? What example are we setting for the future leaders of tomorrow? This ‘do what I say, and not what I do’ will not cut it, we need to be role models. And, what Dr. Nicely is proposing, is not how we ought to do it.

The solution is simple, since Dr. Nicely says that we (educators) are the experts, then, it is fair that the Ministry of Education dialogue with the JTA. As such, strategically select a committee of teachers who are competent in respective subject areas, to review the curriculum, and select books that are most suitable for a specific grade level in which the content of the books matches the objectives of the curriculum. There is no need for the Ministry and the JTA to be in a ‘cock fight’, the two entities can work together and therefore make it advantageous for all. With this proposal, teachers will get the chance to select their books, only that it will be under a strategic framework organized by the Ministry.

I am not sure under what regime the Ministry selects the “master booklist,” but if this proposal is considered, the committee could also review the booklist and determine the books that should stay and if needs be, the ones that should go. The President needs to be a leader and provide solutions, rather than telling teachers to be delinquent. With this type of behavior that he is advocating it open my eyes to why people view teachers the will they do. A word to the wise, “yuh cah sen monkey go ring church bell!”

Kenroy Davis is an educator and commentator on social issues. Email feedback to: kenroy.davis20@gmail.com