THE EDITOR, Sir:
I AM a teacher at the Charlie Smith High School, which was recently, seriously affected by the violence which erupted in the Arnett Gardens area on April 26. I can distinctly remember that Monday when the staff was suddenly jolted by the shocking news that a colleague had suddenly died. We were all grief-stricken. Personally, I don't know which was worse, the fact that my colleague's death had reminded me about the tragic death of Rohan Thompson, a well loved student who was gunned down at his gate in February, or the fact that her death had snuck up on us like a thief in the night.
That same Monday, our Principal had decided to release school early, seeing that we the staff were finding it difficult to cope with the sudden loss of our colleague. About four o'clock that evening myself and a couple of my colleagues were on the compound when guns started to blaze all around us. Gunmen ran up and down in the schoolyard trading bullets. We watched in horror as a man just outside the school, brandishing a handgun, peeped around the corner, looking for someone to shoot at. He was greeted with the bullets from a high-powered weapon. He staggered back, fell, got up and ran back down the lane. This went on for about half an hour. We could not move. We were obviously not the intended targets of those bullets, but one could not help but being frightened by the whole ordeal. It was not until after a police car arrived that we could leave under police escort. They too were obviously frightened as they left in haste.
LAUGHING STOCK
The students, who were on the compound at the time bolted through the gate and made a dash for home. The following day, I went to school, rumours started to fly about how I peed my pants and how my fellow colleagues prayed in earnest, asking God to deliver us from our plight. As the Jamaican proverb goes "Sometimes yu ave fi tek bad ting mek joke." We became the laughing stock, both among students and staff members. We even added our own little twist to the truth, in a bid to add something comic to our ordeal. But I did notice something about my colleagues. Their morale was at an all time low. We were all trying to cope with the grief of suddenly losing a colleague. Then came the violence that literally turned the entire community on its head. We were so on edge that at one point we heard the sound of a bike backfiring and we all flew for cover.
The following week when school reopened there was a heavy detachment of security personnel at the school and I felt a little bit safe. But lo and behold they were gone by the Tuesday. Once again we were left at the mercy of the gunmen. We were promised by Dr. Davies, security for as long as we needed it, but all I felt was insecurity. I remembered sitting at my desk and being gripped by the reality of my colleague's death. I remembered thinking about the violence and thought to myself " Is this worth it? Is this worth my life? My answer was NO!
I wanted to leave immediately. Teachers' Day was on us. This was a day when the nation celebrated the life of the facilitators of learning. I remembered this particular grade seven student who seems to have become attached to me. For one reason or the other she has been going about the school and telling people that I am her godfather. On this particular day, she brought me a small Teddy Bear, a flower and a Kirk Franklin CD. This was the very same student I had to scold and send to the bathroom to wash out her mouth the day before for using expletives to another student. She hugged me and told me happy Teachers' Day. I was touched by this act of love. I thought to myself of course it is worth it! Yes! Dr. Davies it is worth it!
BOARD MEMBER
Throughout the violence you never once met with the staff members to try and reassure them, but it is still worth it! Throughout our mourning and attempt to cope with the loss of a colleague who has given 10 years to Charlie Smith, we did not once see your face, yet you can find the time to attend the funerals of 'prominent members'of the community. But it is still worth it! Where were the board members, during our time of grief? Where were you Doreen Frankson when we were burying a colleague who has given 10 years to the Charlie Smith High School? Where were you Dennis Williams? Where were you Mr. President of the Parent Teachers Association? Where were you Dr. Omar Davies? Where were you all, when we were burying our colleague? But guess what folks? It is still worth it!
You have abandoned us, and left us to rot amongst the proverbial scrapheap of doom. What is our crime? Is it because we dared to care about what happens to these young underprivileged kids? Is it that we dared to get young underprivileged kids to dream? Is it because we dared to inspire them to be all that they can be? Is it because we dared to tell you that we do not like how you are handling the school why you have abandoned us? But it is still worth it! You bet your life it is! Like the song says, "Do you expect us to turn the other cheek, taste our tears and admit defeat? Do you expect us to listen when you speak? When you never ever practised what you preach." Ohhh, what hypocrites you are!!! Get this straight, my noble and honourable friends!!! Charlie Smith has some of the most qualified and motivated teachers that you can possibly find in any inner city school. We care about what happens to these underprivileged children whose only crime was that they were born in abject poverty. If we can save one child from the scourge of crime and violence that has become a way of life for most if not all of them, then we have done Jamaica a world of good, and probably even you! Yes You!!! 'Cow neva know di use a him tail so till him lose it'.
PHYSICAL ENVIRONMENT
In spite of our problems we will press on. Contrary to what you 'honourable people' might think, the 'Ghetto' has nothing to do with the physical environment that one finds themselves, in, but is a product of the state of mind of the people within that physical environment. We have accepted that it is only education that can truly stop this violence. So we will play our part with or without your help or appreciation! We will continue to take solace in watching these young underprivileged children grow into good and invaluable human beings.
Edmond Burke once said, "The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to stand aside and do nothing." In the meantime thanks, thanks a lot, for nothing!
I am, etc.,
MARK MALABVER
M_Malabver@hotmail.com
A teacher of Social Studies
and History at the Charlie
smith High School
