THE EDITOR, Sir:
AS THE nation prepares to celebrate Education Week 2003 during Child Month, let us reflect on past accomplishments to see where we are and where we need to go. It is going to take just more than the will of all stakeholders in the educational arena to achieve the targeted goal.
Since I began my stint in the classroom some six years ago, I noticed that there is an abysmal difference between those from the "old school" and those of the "new school". Veteran teachers across the length and breadth of Jamaica, seem to be crying foul for the social decadence that now invades the classroom.
We have taught flimsy standards of behaviour in our schools and then we actually hire police guards to protect us from the very students we created. Our schools are bad because few of us are willing to go against what seems to be the standard of conduct which is accepted by many. Instead of preparing students to become responsible citizens they are being taught to become "fulfilled" citizens who obtain their personal needs and material success at any cost.
I firmly believe that each child who sits before a teacher is a champion worth wrestling. I believe that whatever we sow we also reap. We cannot afford to sow negative insecure seeds.
Let us once again set our children in a sea of morality. Let us begin to make our schools beacons of hope not dens of hope. Let us help our children to unravel the puzzles of their minds. Let us once again make the schools our children's workshop where they will come to believe that they are the source of progress, parents of determination and the origin of inspiration. Remind them that the mind is the best computer before we put them on computers. Remember that the failure of the educators diminishes the total worth of a nation.
Let us no longer allow our children to fly with mangled wings but wings that will allow them to fly to the highest heights.
I am, etc.,
HAVREY BROWN
Teacher
