NEW DISCIPLINARY measures and achievement incentives, as well as a revamping of the physical environment, have resulted in a dramatic turnaround in behaviour and performance at Wolmer's Boys' School, principal Dave Myrie said Thursday.
He was the guest speaker at the weekly luncheon meeting of the Rotary Club of Kingston at the Jamaica Pegasus Hotel, New Kingston.
Mr. Myrie, a Rotarian, said his school was recently recognised by the Council for Education as having the best percentages in Mathematics and English passes at CXC level among boys' schools for the last school year, adding: "Last year at Wolmer's Boys' School, we achieved the best English Language results that we've had in the past 16 years."
Mr. Myrie said that when he arrived at the school two years ago, he set out to improve three areas: behaviour, staff development and physical development. He said that a comprehensive behavioural plan, in which detentions could add up to further sanctions, was introduced and the subsequent improvement in behaviour freed up more time to be spent on education rather than discipline.
Teachers, some of whom had previously displayed a nonchalant attitude, were also encouraged to spend more time with students, he said.
To further the development of the staff, Mr. Myrie said specialists were brought in to instruct teachers on current classroom practices and a mentorship programme was instituted to help new teachers. And concerning improvements to the school's landscape, Mr. Myrie cited repainting, addition of computers, the rebuilding of the Fifth Form block and the construction of a trophy Cabinet.
"I want to create an institution that is comfortable with itself," Mr. Myrie said.
A mini-prize giving after every term has stimulated competition among the students, Mr. Myrie added, as only 19 boys were eligible for awards the first time it was done, but more than 200 received prizes the next time.
In the near future, the school will increase its alumni outreaches and introduce SAT classes, he said.
But, he found fault with the way teachers are treated in Jamaica, leading to their mass departure to greener pastures abroad, and said he wants to know what pass marks mean in actual learning terms. He also considers the politicising of education regrettable.
"Education is too much of a political animal, as far as I am concerned," Mr. Myrie said.
