THE EDITOR, Sir:
AS A teacher who returned to Jamaica after being recruited to teach in New York City Public Schools, I have a duty to respond to former Council woman Una Clarke's comment about the Jamaican teachers who returned home being "selfish and ungrateful."
I can only speak for myself, as my decision to return home was not made in consultation with any other teacher. Since my return on September 9, I have not been in touch with any other teacher who has returned home. I am also of the opinion that teachers' reasons for returning home are as varied as their reasons for going to New York to teach in the first place.
I am disappointed that Mrs. Una Clarke takes the return of some teachers to Jamaica, in such a personal way that she has to resort to being rude and offensive. The majority of the teachers stayed. The New York Board of Education did not expect everyone to remain. This is the first time the Board has actively recruited teachers from the Caribbean. Each year the New York Board of Education has to recruit teachers. Some return to their homeland and some remain. The Americans accepted my decision to leave, without rancour. I was even commended for doing the necessary paper work for having my visa cancelled.
Seeing that Mrs. Clarke was such an integral part of the recruitment drive why did she not use her political gymnastics to begin the process earlier? This could have relieved some of the last-minute stress and bungling.
Mrs. Clarke's pronouncements concerning the issue of Green Card for teachers, on Nationwide Power 106, on Tuesday, June 18, 2002 leaves one to wonder what is the real deal. What is the story behind the issuing of J1 visas to Caribbean nationals rather than the H visas that were issued to European and Canadian nationals?
As Jamaicans, there is no need to be disrespectful to each other. We are all children of the universe. It is not good for human beings to be disrespectful to each other. Let us live and let live.
I am etc.,
WINNIE ANDERSON-BROWN
winab@cwjamaica.com
Bagatelle District
Ashley P.A.
Clarendon
