THE EDITOR, Sir:
I AM somewhat disturbed by the call of certain educators to "ban anancy". While I believe in freedom of speech I must declare that I am disappointed that our teachers will deem this to be something that should occupy their minds in their conference. I wonder too why no similar call was made at the same conference to ban the various animations which have flooded our island and region with obvious questionable values.
If anancy goes will it mean that the animations are to go also. Or is this another case of the self-devaluation which is part of the legacy of the colonial period? It is partly because there is no clarity on this matter why I am concerned and disappointed. The issues of indiscipline in the schools of Jamaica are multifaceted and varied. "Arm-chair" solutions and band-wagon solutions will not help.
I am, etc.,
ANDREW LOMAX
E-mail: eorte_98@yahoo.co.uk
St. Lucy
Barbados
Via Go-Jamaica
THE EDITOR, Sir:
IT WAS with considerable dismay that I read in Sunday's Gleaner Online the article about teachers proposing to ban Anancy stories in Jamaican schools. What, I ask you, could be as Jamaican as the remnants of our West African forebears' folk stories?
Many generations before this one, including my own, were raised on Anancy stories without any damage to their morals or ethics. If this group of teachers is unable to find value in the Anancy stories then I would suggest they are not up to the job.
I live in Canada now, and my son will grow up a long way from the land of the sea and sun, but I will ensure that Anancy does not die in our family. We will laugh at him, and we will learn from him; we will keep him close to us and remember where we came from.
I am etc.,
SEAN MITCHELL
E-mail: sean@arawak.on.ca
Ontario
Canada
Via Go-Jamaica
