OPPOSITION LEADER Edward Seaga says he will be honouring 100 teachers from schools in West Kingston who have served over 40 years.
Mr. Seaga made the announcement in a message issued yesterday, saluting all teachers on their outstanding contribution as they celebrated Teachers' Day.
In tribute to the teachers of West Kingston and to commemorate his 40th anniversary of being elected as Member of Parliament for the constituency, Mr. Seaga said that he will be honouring 100 teachers of schools in West Kingston who have served over 40 years at a function on Thursday, May 30, 2002 at the Jamaica Conference Centre.
Mr. Seaga said that the teaching profession continues to be one of the most preferred occupations for young people who are able to receive a tertiary education, despite the emoluments being less than attractive. He said that one of the positive forces that move young recruits to the teaching profession, however, was the respect which teachers receive in their communities.
On the other hand, the Opposition Leader noted with concern the current student-teacher relationship which exists in some schools, which has resulted in the waning of respect.
Mr. Seaga said that if corrective action is not taken, the country will witness a spread of indiscipline. He said he is of the view that the solution lies in a better relationship between teachers and students, starting at an early age, and the development of programmes to recapture the heart of the student and greater respect for the teacher.
Mr. Seaga said he would commit time to joining some of these sessions to do his best in the campaign to stop the drift to indiscipline.
