By Angelo Laurence,
Freelance Writer
WITH ITS motto 'Education For The Future', the Broadleaf All-Age School is answering the challenge to make the future a more literate one by laying the educational foundation in the minds of its 167 students.
Nestled in a small farming community to the east of Mandeville, the school got its start more than one hundred and fifty years ago as part of the Moravian Church.
Its small building and crammed classrooms in no way tell the story of its importance to the community or its accomplishments in education, the many thousands who have passed through its doors. Perched on a small hill facing the church where it had its beginning, you are welcomed by its well kept grounds free of litter and a smiling staff of eight teachers.
Principal Mrs. Pauline Wallace, who has so far spent 21 years of her teaching career at the school, is particularly proud of the teaching staff which she said has shown a sense of dedication to the welfare of the children beyond their expected responsibilities.
Migrating from the parish of St. Ann, Mrs. Wallace originally came to the parish to do internship. However, she said not only did she find a new home in the parish but also her husband, Donald. It is not often you will find a complement of persons working like a "family" the way these teachers do, she told The Gleaner. As a result, she said the children are given greater opportunities to learn which has manifested itself in a high percentage of them gaining passes to move on to various high schools.
Mrs. Wallace cautions, however, that there are some problems within the teaching system as a whole that need to be addressed to enhance the learning process such as making school attendance mandatory.
Decline in discipline
Teacher Marcia Pusey also echoes Mrs. Wallace's concern, adding that it is time to teach parenting in schools. According to Miss Pusey, the lack of parenting skills has contributed to the steady decline in discipline and positive values among students. "We must recognise," she said, "the parents of today's children are much younger and inexperienced and incapable of passing on to them the examples that will mould them for a better future."
Miss Gloria Matthews, a senior teacher, agrees with her colleagues that methods must be found to assist parents become better role models for their children, telling The Gleaner that the behaviour of most children is a reflection of how they (children) relate to their parents.
With several trophies and certificates of excellence dotted the walls of the principal's office, giving testimony to the school's positive achievements academically and in sports. Like most other schools in the parish, the Broadleaf All Age School is suffering from a lack of equipment. Besides needing adequate classrooms, the need for a library, science laboratory, telephone and computers are the immediate desire of the teaching staff.
Although the school lacks some basic amenities, which would make the teacher and learning process easier for both teachers and students, teachers like Ms. Zephlyn Graham, who is herself a product of the school, are not discouraged and remain focused on the task which is to give each child the best education possible. "We try our best," she said, "we are proud of the many students who have gone on to higher institutions of learning and doing well."
One of the parish's top ten schools in the annual Spelling Bee contest, it has also captured several gold medals in speech and other categories in the yearly Jamaica Cultural Development Commission programmes. Mindful of their role and the school's mission, the teachers, despite the many shortcomings in the physical structure of the school, have managed to garner the support of the community which they say has shown an unusual high interest in the affairs of the school.
However, parents such as Edell Murray and Joyclyn Johnson said that the teachers of Broadleaf All-Age are 'unsung heroes' who quietly contribute to the good of the community through their efforts to make every child literate before leaving the school.
According to Mr. Murray, when his daughter was sick a week ago and did not attend school he was surprised to see four teachers turning up at his home on separate occasions to inquire why the child was not in school. "That is an experience I will never forget," said Mr. Murray.
Mrs. Johnson had a similar story of caring by the teachers telling The Gleaner that the teachers will "quarrel" with the parents if they do not send their children to school due to a lack of funds, telling the parents not to worry about the money "send the children to school anyway".
However, although the teachers are of high spirits they bemoan the fact that many in their profession are unable to secure a home of their own and remain insecure about their retirement. While the community heaps praises on the teachers, the school remains the beacon of hope for the future generation of Broadleaf. Far removed from the hustle and bright lights of the parish capital Mandeville its tranquil outer demeanour cloaks its intensity and focus of giving to its students the tools of a good education to become productive and positive influence in a global community.
