Byron Buckley, News Editor
Lord Bishop Dr. Alfred Reid (right) views a copy of the programme for The Queen's School's 50th Anniversary Banquet and Long Service Awards Ceremony held at the Knustford Court Hotel, New Kingston, on Wednesday night. Along with the Lord Bishop are (from left) Joan Paris-Woodstock, deputy board chairman; Yvonne Keane-Dawes, principal; Dr. Kathryn Brodber, guest speaker; and Yanique Brown, head girl. - IAN ALLEN/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
TOO MUCH effort is being spent preparing students solely to pass examinations, rather than equipping them to be well-rounded persons, according to a lecturer at the University of the West Indies (UWI).
The 'lopsided' education system, according to Dr. Kathryn Brodber, is producing socially irresponsible individuals.
"I am convinced that the one-sided or lopsided approach which pays short shrift to the development of rounded individuals at the expense of examination passes," she stated, "is of little benefit to any of us and should be shunned."
Dr. Brodber, a lecturer in languages, was delivering the keynote address at The Queen's School Golden Anniversary Banquet and Long Service Awards Ceremony, held on Wednesday at the Knutsford Court Hotel in New Kingston. Fifty-eight persons drawn from the school's academic and administrative staff, the parent-teacher association and the alumni were awarded for their service.
Dr. Brodber pointed to the importance of students participating in non-academic activities in the "development of discipline, motivation, and psychological balance."
CAUTION AGAINST OVER-RELIANCE
Warned the educator: "What if we are able to turn out factories of examination-passing students who are totally unprepared for the independent work which they have to do in tertiary-level institutions, or ill prepared for the social world in which they will work, having left school."
The educator also cautioned against over-reliance on rankings of schools' performance in the Caribbean Examination Council (CXC) examinations. She said the rankings have spawned "superficial analyses" because schools with different missions and differing abilities of students are being compared.
"We must not be fooled into thinking that the achievement of passes in such examinations, in isolation, is an indication of a successful school," stressed Dr. Brodber.
She is also advocating the use of Jamaican Creole, or Patois, in teaching students, arguing that instructing students in their native language facilities learning.
In his congratulatory message, the Right Rev. Alfred Reid, Lord Bishop of Jamaica, who is the president of all Anglican schools in the island including Queen's, urged the staff to "carry the great contribution forward".
Other persons giving greetings included Judith Spencer-Jarrett, former president of the Jamaica Teachers' Association; and Elaine Roulston, education officer at the Ministry of Education, Youth and Culture.
Retired principal of The Queen's School, E. Aiken, was among the awardees. She noted in her reply on behalf of retired administrators that they represented a total of 300 years of service to the school.
