Teachers the backbone of education system ONE WANTED to be a nurse. The other a journalist or psychologist. Yet, more than 25 years after they started teaching, Violet Johnson and acting vice-principal of Mona High, Evangeline Martin were wrapped in the warm approval of their peers and touted by the Jamaica Teachers' Association (JTA) for their exemplary performance on the teacher programme. "I feel real good," beamed the modest Mrs. Johnson, a grade three teacher, cultural and sports organiser at Mount Fletcher primary school in St. Andrew. "Each day, I grow to love the profession and the children I teach more." Like Mrs. Johnson, Ms. Martin, who has chaired numerous committees in the Ministry of Education, the JTA, 4H Club, church and various schools, loves her job. That is not all they have in common. Both started being the JTA's "mouth-piece" in their schools in 1978. Since then, they have been instrumental in relaying credit union and other information to teachers and teachers' concerns and needs to the JTA. So it was no wonder that strong applause greeted their long list of accomplishments, which were read at a ceremony at Le Meridien Jamaica Pegasus recently to honour the two women and 15 other contact teachers from St. Thomas, St. Catherine, Kingston and St. Andrew. Plaques JTA President, Judith Spencer-Jarrett, commended the group, which included three men, stating that they were key to the effective functioning of the JTA. There are four kinds of workers in an organisation, she said, the wish bones who spent all their time wishing for change and never taking steps to make it a reality, the jawbones, who were all talk and no action, the knuckle bones who always found fault with any system and the backbones those who made things happen. "You are the backbones," she told the 17, who later received plaques and were in high spirits despite a short power cut and the absence of the guest speaker, Sen. Floyd Morris who was in Parliament. "You make things happen." Mrs. Spencer-Jarrett thanked the contact teachers for being pacifiers and front line soldiers who were sometimes battered by upset teachers. "Without you in the service, the JTA would be hampered. We are grateful for the contribution made." Mrs. Shernett Henry, Marketing Manager for the JTA's Credit Union, reminded teachers that they must be proactive or forward thinking in their choices because of they influenced youngsters and "seeds sown today will be reaped tomorrow," she said. Excellent work Not to be outdone, Education Ministry representative, Viris Clarke-Ellis, praised teachers for doing excellent work with limited equipment. "We are grateful for the kinds of persons who, no matter what, continue going. You are truly unsung heroes." But while they love being among "the unsung heroes", Mrs. Johnson and Ms. Martin, a well known mathematician, said that more can be done to make the education system better. "I would like the Government to implement stronger disciplinary measures in the classroom," Mrs. Johnson said while Ms. Martin asked the Government to put more effort into helping teachers to effectively carrying out duties. She said that in many cases, such as with an incentive programme, the Ministry of Education will come up with an idea and say that it must be implemented in schools but it was up to already overworked teachers to make sure that it worked. "There are plans but the implementation of the projects and the follow through is what there needs to be more of a committed effort to get going. If teachers are not motivated, then they won't want to do it. I feel that a lot is left on the teacher. I feel there needs to be more," she said.
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