THE EDITOR, Sir:
THIS LETTER is in response to the article Traditional and Upgraded Schools, by Stephen Vasciannie, in the issue of The Gleaner dated Monday, July 22.
The article begins with the statement, "Sometimes you have to be harsh to be kind," and ends with the declaration, "This column is not meant to be unkind to upgraded schools... but sometimes you have to be harsh to be kind."
In my view, this article is cruel and unkind to upgraded high schools. It is not reasonable to compare the performance of students at CXC level in the traditional high schools with that of the students in upgraded high schools without taking pains to point out the fact that students in the traditional high schools begin with a head start above those in the upgraded high schools. Why do we not place our scholarship winners in upgraded high schools? Why don't we accept the fact that our education system preserves our class structure? It is not even reasonable to compare the performance of students in different traditional high schools after placing the brightest students in selected schools.
When are we going to accept the fact that there is no such thing as a level playing field as far as education is concerned? The odds will always be with us. We need to encourage our students to do well despite the odds. Encourage them to be the best that they can be while accepting the fact that we do not have equal opportunities for all our children.
All our children are not equally endowed, but they all can achieve success if we do not see performance at the CXC examinations as the only measure of success.
Parents want the best for their children. The disparities in our education system are obvious. We need not make matters worse by making cruel comparisons under the guise of being kind.
I am, etc.,
WINNIE
ANDERSON-BROWN
winab@cwjamaica.com
Bagatelle District
Ashley P.A.
Clarendon
