BLACK RIVER, St. Elizabeth:
THE JAMAICA Teachers' Association (JTA) St. Elizabeth Chapter elected its new president at a meeting at the Sharon Baptist Church Hall in Santa Cruz on May 30.
In one of the lowest turnout, since 1987, for an annual general meeting, Evaralde Bennett was installed as the new president for the 2003/2004 presidential year.
Installation was done by Patrick Smith, JTA liaison officer, who implored him to continue the good work that others had started in the parish and not to fall for mediocrity.
National president, Sadie Comrie, in bringing greetings, informed colleagues that the association was working vigorously to ensure that the instrument to be used to determine teachers' performance has the right input of teachers. "We will not leave anything to chance right now teachers are blamed for anything students do wrongly, yet, there is hardly any commendations for teachers who themselves go beyond the call of duty to see that their students and the wider community excel and live in harmony."
Mrs. Comrie said that there was seldom a community group or a service club, or even a church without outstanding input by our teachers.
After his induction, Mr. Bennett told the gathering that he was fully committed to the JTA to the cause of teachers and to education. The parish can expect a year of vibrant and positive activities to help to improve the status of teachers in the society.
Other members of the executive, which will take up duties at the rise of the conference on August 18, are president, Michael Stewart; secretary, Lorna Wright; treasurer, Basil Bennett and public relations officer, Roydel Smith.
The meeting was moderated by chairman of the Primary School Committee, Clovis Tatham.
