THE EDITOR, Sir:
I do not know how many have noticed that in the just concluded Schools' Challenge Quiz on TVJ that it was yet another all-boys team that walked away with the championship trophy. What is more interesting is that between 2001 and 2004 the victors have been all boys.
This year, the four teams making it to the semi-finals then finals had a combined total of 15 boys and one girl, she being Danielle Chai, the all-island CXC maths champion from Manchester High. The top teams were Munro College for boys, Kingston College, Glenmuir High and Manchester High and the eventual winners Calabar.
The same can be said of the National Schools' Debate on CVM. Apart from Hampton School for girls, the other teams making it to the semi-finals/finals were all comprised of boys from Cornwall College, Kingston College and Munro College. What was noticeable in the matches was how articulate and focused these young men were. Some might say they were 'coached' but so what.
For years we have been lamenting about how poorly our boys are doing. We continue to hear positive stories about how many girls graduate each year from school and colleges and go to becoming high achievers. It seems to me that we might have been overlooking the positives in our boys as well, and because of this we as a society might have to take some of the blame for what has become our 'wayward boys'. They have become a demoralised group.
There are a lot of boys in school who are genuinely trying to better themselves so that they can achieve at the highest level as well. We need to shower then with accolades when they excel.
In the Sunday Observer on May 16, the main topic for discussion was 'Ranking Jamaica's High Schools'. In the Gleaner it said 'Grades Plunge'. I looked at the top CXC performing schools, five of them were all-girls schools, the others were either a mixture of boys and girls with about two being boys only. I think a study should also be done to see how well boys in general perform at the highest level.
While we congratulate our girls for continuing to perform above average, it is imperative that we also shower praise on our boys who do just as well. They are being overshadowed by the stigma attached to them, that of turning out to be criminals or just lazy bums. Let this be the time for us now to start recognising our boys and men in general who are making a difference in helping to uplift this country.
I am etc.,
JACQUELINE WRIGHT
jamline66@yahoo.com
Mandeville, Manchester
