THE EDITOR, Sir:
YOUR PUBLICATION continues to do a superb job keeping many of us Jamaicans (at home and abroad) informed on Jamaica's education. From Michelle Barrett's uplifting report on yet another Jamaican, Janet Dyer, who beat the financial odds and is now Head of Technical Skills at HEART Hotel to the very recent story on the bi-partisan resolution passed by the House of Representatives.
However, I now turn my attention to Mr. Everton Prender-gast's letter 'It takes a teacher to understand' [dated October 11, 2003]. Believe me when I categorically state that nobody will ever understand what a teacher has to go through like a CARING SPOUSE does.
To A Devoted Jamaican Teacher:
You started off teaching the young and innocent - at a local church organisation,
You fell in love with teaching and later enrolled at an educational institution,
Armed with the proper training and degrees in Early Childhood, Special Education and Reading,
You opted to teach Grade 2 and encourage colleagues to cut the complaining,
Too long up cropped the ugly problems with student behaviour,
Unable to get through your planned lessons, you often call on our Almighty Saviour,
Reports are sent to the vice-principal and principal,
Yet nothing is done and the child feels invincible,
Legislation is enacted and all you hear is that you must be held accountable,
As if to say, after all the hard work and professional training you are incapable,
God knows that your heart's desire is to see every child ace the GSAT,
Hoping they will some day score well on the SAT, GMAT or LSAT,
Persevere and teach your students those terrific strategies in Math, English and Reading,
Even while politicians and school administration continue to excel at debating and pontificating,
Fully aware that you and many other teachers are overwhelmed and overly stressed,
Your family, especially your spouse says, "hang tough and continue to do your best".
I am etc.,
TREVOR JACKSON
trevorajackson@hotmail.com
West Hartford, Connecticut
Via Go-Jamaica
