HUNDREDS OF family members, friends and well-wishers converged in the auditorium of the Immaculate Conception High School on Saturday to attend the graduation ceremony of students of the St. Joseph's Teachers' College (SJTC).
They were treated to a sometimes fiery, sometimes humorous address by guest speaker, Patricia Eaves. Ms. Eaves, upbraided teachers who ran the risk of being seen as hypocrites in their classrooms because they did not monitor and regulate their own behaviour.
"How can we talk about students using cellphones when ours go off during class time, and we dare to answer it?" Ms. Eaves said to a chorus of assent and "tell it like it is!" from the audience.
"And then we say, oh, it's an emergency, it is our church sister calling about last Sunday's sermon," she continued to loud laughter.
She congratulated the graduates on their achievements, and implored them to return the kindness shown to them by relatives and friends who had helped them to achieve an education. She also spoke at length about the spheres of influence a teacher commands and of the need to make a difference wherever one goes.
YOUR PRESENCE
"If yu spend one year at a school, they must remember you fi 20 years!" she said. " ... The neighbourhood must feel your presence, you must make a difference to the lives. Start a class on your verandah, teach them, but don't charge now ... you must inspire and generate courage for others to get up from that wall that has no future, to get up and achieve."
The valedictorian's address was delivered by honours graduate Merlene Campbell-Lea. Only one female, Floris McKenzie, earned honours in the early childhood education programme, while three earned honours in the primary programme. Julio Warren won the Amy Miller Cup for being the most professional graduate teacher, as well as a special award for teaching practice. He was one of only five males in the graduating class.
Other standouts include Shevonne Powell-King, who won the science award, and Tameka Thomas-Mills, who won the inaugral presentation of the Loretta Henry-Grant trophy for being the most outstanding student in reading. It was interesting to note that a lot of the female winners of awards had double-barrel surnames.
THE NEXT GENERATION
Dr. Sheila Brown, president of Mount St. Vincent University, commended the graduating class, calling them "the next generation of leaders" and urged them to "assume the responsibility with a gladness of heart that you can and will make a difference."
According to Dr. Brown, the Canadian university recently submitted documents to the University Council of Jamaica in order to be accredited for its Bachelor of Education programme.
Sister Trinita Solnek of the Franciscan Sisters of Allegany, the Canadian Ambassador to Jamaica, Claudio Valle, and Father Kingsley Asphall, the Roman Catholic chaplain of the SJTC were in attendance.
