By Andrew Smith, Staff Reporter
James Paul McLaughlin sees himself with the 'gift for motivating people and showing people the positive, especially those who think that they have no future'. - Carlington Wilmot /Freelance Photographer
ALTHOUGH JAMES Paul McLaughlin, the 2003 recipient of the Governor-General's Achievement Award for Manchester was born in poverty, he is now in possession of a career and vocation which makes him complete.
He was born on the Vere Plains of southern Clarendon to Alton McLaughlin, a peasant farmer and seasonal casual labourer and Mary McLaughlin, a housewife and vendor. When he was four years old, his family moved to Manchester. The third of ten children, his family was so poor that the only profession which his father felt that the family could afford young James to pursue was tailoring. However, this did not dissuade him from attaining higher goals, and for over 25 years, James Paul McLaughlin has had a distinguished career as principal of the Kendal All-Age School.
TEACHERS & MOTHERS WHO CARE
James McLaughlin's path to teaching was laid when he was a student at Pratville Elementary. When his father wanted him to start his training as a tailor, he sought the advice of his principal, Arthur Williams. Mr. McLaughlin said that Mr. Williams is the reason he has achieved his goals. James McLaughlin rewarded this support at 15 when he passed the First Jamaica Local Examinations and at 16 in 1962 he passed the Third Jamaica Local Examinations, with distinction in Mathematics.
At this watershed time of his life, his mother Mary came to his assistance. James warmly describes her as a strong disciplinarian to her ten children, who insisted on "honesty, integrity and hard work." She also instilled a sense of purpose, humility and respect for others. Although she herself did not have much schooling, she recognised its importance, so she became a vendor to help with the school fees for James and his siblings.
He attended Mico Teachers College between 1966 and 1969, and was appointed a school principal in 1970. In 1977, he was appointed principal of the Kendal All-Age.
ACHIEVEMENTS AT KENDAL
When James McLaughlin was appointed principal, he found a school which had attained success in the Jamaica Cultural Development Commission's festival activities, but lacked focus on the academics and individual achievements. The physical infrastructure of the school was also in a deplorable state. There were no sanitary facilities for teachers, who had to share pit toilets with students. For the first few years of his tenure, he worked on the physical appearance of the school.
Two areas which Mr. McLaughlin is proud of are the school's science programme and hospitality education programme. The science programme is geared towards ecology, and Kendal All-Age is the only all-age school to win the national trophy from the National Science Teachers' for a project which the school did on the endangered galliwasp.
The hospitality education programme is linked to the south coast's development for eco-tourism. It incorporates a food and beverage management course for students in grades seven to nine. Students are required to have two years of work experience in restaurants in Mandeville in order to graduate.
A GIVER OF SELF
James McLaughlin is a man who believes in generosity of spirit. He sees himself with the "gift for motivating people and showing people the positive", especially those who think that they have no future. In three years time when he retires from active teaching, James McLaughlin intends to continue, "lifting people from out of the down (by) just sharing with them the hope, especially the young people." He will continue to spend time trying to build Jamaica in his own way because, he has "a lot of faith and confidence in Jamaican people. I want to let them know that you don't have to be involved in crime and violence (because of poverty)." He wants people to know that "growing up in poverty doesn't mean that you have to remain in poverty for your life."
He will also pursue farming at his home on the outskirts of Mandeville and spend time with his two grandchildren which his four children have blessed he and his wife of 33 years, Constance.
