THE EDITOR, Sir:
I WAS shocked by comments made by Bishop Alfred on Ronnie Thwaites' current affairs programme 'Independent Talk'. Bishop Reid, who is the head of the Anglican Church in Jamaica was addressing problems faced within the education sector and the church's response.
According to Bishop Reid, the church needs to intensify the drive to recruit more teachers who are of the denomination the school is affiliated with. This he said will ensure a greater level of professionalism and performance. Not only are such comments discriminatory to people like myself, but they border on contempt for a non-denominational teachers.
I would love to ask the bishop the following questions:
1. Is it the church who pays the teachers and maintains the school's plant?
2. Is there a lease agreement between the Government and the church regarding the school's property?
3. Has the church ever conducted or is conducting any research to validate the view that an increase in denominational-based teachers will enhance professionalism and performance?
4. Has the bishop or the church assessed or observed the
professionalism of their church-based teachers in a systematic way?
If the answer to the question is 'yes', I would love to have the findings and I am sure that others would likewise find them
interesting. However, if the answer to these questions is 'no', the bishop should either put up or shut up.
Do I believe denominational-based teachers will improve professionalism and performance? I honestly don't know. However, I would ask the bishop if he believes that Professor Rex Nettleford or Prime Minister Patterson is of Hispanic origin?
I am, etc.,
ANDRE A.O. WELLINGTON
Christiana Leased Primary
Christiana P.O. Box 6
Manchester
