THE EDITOR, Sir:"I know it's controversial, but to set the stage for us to understand that we have equal responsibility for the funding of education, perhaps if we were to have a (TCC) requirement before your child is registered in school, that would be a rather interesting innovation," said Mr. Ruel Reid, President of the Jamaica Teachers' Association recently, at a back-to-school trade fair. This is a good sound bite and another fashion statement for persons that have run out of practical ideas to help the situation or to be politically correct at all times.
The suggestion in itself is immoral and goes against the grain of natural justice and human rights.Why should Mr. Reid want the State to sanction collective punishment against Jamaican children who do not participate in their parents' decision not to pay their taxes or in activities in which they are already overtaxed and are unable to fully meet their tax liabilities on time?
Mr. Reid ought to be a thinker and not get carried away by cameras and microphones. He could have been talking about the wanton waste and corruption that has overtaken this country without which we might have been able to fund not only education, but health, roads and many of the other necessities.
Mr. Reid should go back to the thinking board and come again.
I am etc.,
MICHAEL SPENCE
Micspen2@hotmail.com
P.O Box 630
Liguanea P.O.
Kingston 6
