Viscous attack on teachers! Teaching meeting its demise?

It wasn’t too long ago that the Minister of Education announced that there will be no hiring of ‘new’ teachers. While I struggle understand what the Minister meant by the word ‘new,’ I noticed that enrollment of new students at our teachers’ colleges has decreased significantly. When I was accepted into college, the number of students who came to do interview was over 200. The consecutive batch was about that number; however, only about 80 students actually enrolled and if one should do the math, that is a 60 per cent decrease in enrollment. The decrease came was after the Minister made the announcement. I am wondering if teaching is slowly meeting its demise.

Whatever the case may be, teaching has lost its value and quality. The perception that is embedded in the now status quo, is that teaching is a last resort. In recent times, teaching has been battered by the system. If my memory serves correctly, I think there has been a wage freeze since 2009. The pay isn’t that attractive. In Finland, teachers are paid and seen in the same light as doctors and lawyers. They have access to world class resources which is used to enhanced teaching and learning. But if teachers are to be paid like doctors and lawyers, would that mean that the entry requirement for teachers has to increase along with the period of study? Is it the amount of CAPE or CSEC you have which makes you a good lawyer or doctor?

Then there is the suggestion that teachers should be paid by performance. Why? Is the Cabinet Ministers being paid by performance? It does not take rocket science to know that this performance pay system is unfeasible. What would be used to measure performance? In light of teaching and learning, what does Lev Vygotsky, Jean Piaget, and other theorists has to say? The many factors that affect the teaching and learning process, how does that factor in? Those who are oblivious of what takes place in the teaching and learning process should keep quiet. Knowledge should inform policies and not the lack thereof. A scientist will tell you that in order to measure both qualitative and quantitative outcomes of an experiment, there has to be a control group which is exposed to same conditions as the subject being measured. Even a simple mathematics topic like measurement shows why it is impractical.

Finally there is the notion of failing teachers, and it is such notion that caused the performance pay system to awaken. When a school receives students in which over 60 per cent of the students’ averages are below 50 per cent, which some cannot read, what are the teachers to do? Non-traditional high schools receive the ‘what left’ of the system and those in their ignorance ready to criticize the teachers and the schools oblivious of the fact that the problem is not with the high schools but primary schools. No student should be enrolled in high school and cannot read; that’s rubbish! If the foundation is not set properly it is almost impossible to get the building process correct. Can you build a house on sand and expect that when rain fall it won’t sink? Teaching is meeting its demise and no impractical policy or cliché notions won’t help.

Pedophiles are the problem, not shift system

Following the death of 13-year-old Aliesha Brown, the Principal of Muschette High School called for an end to the shift system, which seems to suggest that it is a contributing factor to the death of Aliesha Brown. In an article in the Observer the Principal stated that, “The system again failed this young lady on the basis that she had to be out that early to get to school that starts at 7:00 am. And that is a good thing. One should always strive for punctuality. It's a good trait, it's a life skill but the point is we are no longer living in a safe Jamaica and for us to have our children exposed to that level of threat so early in the morning, I feel that we have failed them.”

One of the things we ought to understand is that the shift system in of itself is a failure to our nation’s children independent of safety. As such, such mechanism should not be in place initially. However, on had to understand that such system was put in place due to the lack of space available at these institutions compared to the number of students attending. Consequently, it would not be easy to abolish such system bearing in mind the aforementioned reason why it was in place. One of the greatest disadvantages is not so much that it is poses as a means of danger to students but that is limits the amount of content that students are able to received.

I believe though, that in the case of Aliesha Brown, the problem is not solely the shift system, but these pedophiles out there that are preying on our children. Regardless of what system in place, whether shift or day school, these perpetrators will find some way to attack and destroy our children. Think of the two other bodies that was found in the Martha Brae River some time ago, where two children who were missing (10-year-old Meleeka Mitchell, and 12-year-old Omari Sterling). Additionally it was reported that the female was sexually assaulted and subsequently murdered. This problem is much bigger than merely deficiencies in the shift system.

It more so significantly relates to a deeper social context that is predominantly becoming a plague unto our nation. It stems from a breakdown in family structures and morality in general. Parents ought to be more involved in their children’s lives; know their friends, know what is going on in their lives and employ measures to adequately monitor their children. Times are not safe anymore and as such, we encourage children to walk in groups and never to go somewhere without telling anyone. We ought to tell them that they are not talk to or entertain strangers. They are not too old for that. We need to go back to the days where family values are seen as priority and are uphold. We need to go back to the days where we embraced the ideology that it takes a village to raise a child. Moreover, we ought to identify, locate and eliminate the pedophiles by whatever means necessary.  

Congrats to Church Teachers' College, now at 50!

As  a student at Church Teachers’ College: Mandeville, I wish to use this medium to show my deepest appreciation that the college had overcome various milestones and is now celebrating its 50^th anniversary under the theme, “Church Teachers College, celebrating fifty years of excellence, repositioning for the future.” Indeed, the college had made a significant contribution to education, producing teachers who are of high quality and who demonstrate professionalism to the highest degree.

The college has a vibrant history, one that I wish to share with members of the public who may not know. The College began in September 1965 as Mandeville Teachers' College, with 75 students, twenty-four of whom were men.  The institution was established with the blessing and authority of the Rt. Rev. Percival Gibson, then Bishop of the Anglican Diocese of Jamaica.  The moving figure to obtain the facilities for a College of Education in Mandeville at that time was the Rt. Rev. Benjamin Vaughan, Bishop of Mandeville. He was the first chairman of the Board of Management, and he ensured that benefactors like the Kerr Jarrett family, Dr. Herbert Morrison and the Ministry of Education were convinced of the value of the College to the community and the island in general.  Bishop Vaughan remained a faithful friend and benefactor of the College until his death in 2003.

Over the last 40 years, the College has achieved high academic honours.  It has won awards for its performance in Mathematics, English and other subject areas in the final JBTE examinations.  It has produced J.J. Mills scholars, and graduates who have proceeded to excel in higher University Degrees and work in Universities in Jamaica, Canada, the United States of America, the United Kingdom and elsewhere.  A number of outstanding past students have been appointed Principals of schools and are performing very well.  A number of others have become ministers of religion, lawyers, etc., and hold very responsible positions in Jamaica and the wider world.

Perhaps the most outstanding achievement of the College has been in its development of human resources and scholars with a love for community Service.  As early as 1967 when schools in Portland and Hanover were closed for the lack of teachers, graduating students from Church Teachers' College: Mandeville volunteered to re-open closed schools and so provide hope for those bereft communities.  Over the years, through its clubs and societies, and through its Physical Education Department, the College has continued to offer assistance to Children's Homes, the mentally and physically challenged, and schools which need help to organize and run sporting events.

Over the course of the year, the college will host a number of events. This Monday September 29 2014, the college was on Smile Jamaica TVJ. On October 1, the college had a media launch and a parade in the town of Mandeville. On October 5, the college had its commencement service and the launch of its 50^th anniversary year of activities. Kudos to a very gifted, dedicated and talented Academic Staff, and a co-operative Administrative and Ancillary Staff, continue on the path of service.