Shelly-Ann Thompson, Freelance Writer
The very accomplished Jerome King got her name because her parents wanted a boy. - RUDOLPH BROWN/CHIEF PHOTOGRAPHER
BEING THE last of three girls, Jerome King's parents hoped for a male child. This didn't happen and so her parents gave her the boy name they had. Yet, becoming a mother of three boys, King is about changing the lives of the disadvantaged especially those of men.
Starting as a social worker at age 20 , King has worked in the United States of America and Jamaican education systems, amassing more than 20 years, and has championed causes in the family courts of Jamaica.
After a year of teaching English and Spanish at Meadowbrook High School her love for social work pushed her to work as a children's officer at the Kingston and St. Andrew Family Court. "Being a social worker is a God-given quality in me. The love of life and love of people living a quality of life is my motto."
This motto pressed King to become a multi-facted person. Her education began at Central Branch Primary School, then St. Andrew High School for Girls after which she attended Shortwood Teachers' College. Her career path in education began at age 19 as a teacher at Meadowbrook. As a young court officer she was responsible for investigating cases of child abuse and neglect, truancy and adoption. King also counselled families in trouble along with identifying other agencies that could help those families restore a quality family life.
EYE OPENER
"It was a learning experience from the first day visiting the children's home and seeing the children. However the cases at the time were less abusive, except for sexual abuse and who is sleeping with a child which was an eye opener, I saw plenty neglect and I saw hunger and pain," recalled King.
As a social worker King has also seen another side of parents of abused children who are often in pain themselves. "Sometimes the parents who are unable to do what they have to do are in more pain than the hungry child. So as a social worker I have to look at the entire picture."
Doing social work and being a major player in the positive development of people were her life's mission when King embarked on studying and working in the United States.
CHILD ABUSE CASES
From her 13 years in the U.S. King garnered experience in early childhood education, nutrition, parenting, teacher training, transportation and child development. She noticed that child abuse cases in the States were very similar to Jamaica however in the former, there was a child abuse and prevention network combating the situation.
"It's mandated by the state that teachers or early childhood officers must report cases of child abuse. If you don't you can be fined."
King moved back to Jamaica in 1994 hoping to impart the tremendous training here. To her surprise she was not readily accepted as often she was seen as someone who "wanted to take over." She brushed the negatives aside and concentrated on being the Assistant Director on a Bernard Van Leer lead project evaluating early childhood education islandwide.
"Jamaicans should understand that we (returning educators), do not want to take over but we want to share a different way of dealing with issues and really combining our way with theirs."
On the Van Leer project King conducted islandwide training of education officers and evaluated schools in several parishes.
King later returned to the classroom becoming principal of Priory Preparatory. At Priory she embarked on an experimental project to integrate special needs students with their peers. "Physically challenged and everybody lived well, creating a sense of family. If children learn in an environment that they are accepted they are guaranteed to do well," she asserted.
This environment of love that King created in the school is similar to that she provides for her family. Her two older sons have diabetes and the youngest is autistic. This has not deterred her from providing the kind of love to her children that fosters exemplary men in the society. She even said that she has never slapped her children and uses non-verbal approaches to discipline - using the voice, eyes, stern warnings, a strong hold, consequences and privileges.
"In order to get effective discipline there must be mutual respect. As an adult, respect who your child is. Don't put them in situations that you know they are going to fail. If your child is scoring under 60 don't tell them that they should get to Campion High School but tell them they can get to a very good school and they can do well."
JAMCHIL
The love of family and volunteerism has led her to her current job. King volunteers as programme administrator for a special needs institution - Programme for the Development of Human Potential.
She is also the executive director of Dads of Distinction/Jamaica's Children (DOD/JAMCHIL). The organisation, based at Kia Motors, 2 Chelsea Avenue, is an OAS Jamaica counterpart agency contracted to implement the Capoeita For Empowerment and Peace Project.
King had the vision of a non-profit agency to do national work and later international work representing Jamaica for children, hence JAMCHIL. "DOD/JAMCHIL will be used as a vehicle of inner change in communities." Capoeita is a form of martial arts brought down from slavery and widely practised in Brazil, is being used as a part of the crime and violence eradication in troubled communities. "An innovative method of helping children and adults who cannot communicate because of their disabilities to do so in other forms," she said.
King sees her future as one that is shining brightly. An avid tennis player, she enjoys dancing, writing stories, and has written children's books, and interior design. With her strong faith in God, she declared, "I'm an optimist; people know me for my smile because that's what's going to combat the negatives of life."
