The Editor, Sir:
I am saddened by the numerous incidents in which children in Jamaica suffer at the expense of us adults. After reading about several injustices and the inhumane reaction to them by some adults over the past couple of days, I thought that that would have been all for at least several months. Well, I have learnt not to make assumptions. It was horrifying for me when a high school teacher recently shared with me the mechanism of a streaming process that is implemented by some schools in Jamaica. As a parent, I believe it is my responsibility to expose such a system to the general public.
Firstly, let me explain exactly how this particular streaming is done. Students enter the school where they are placed into grades on the basis of age and/or their GSAT results. They remain in the same grade when they move on to second form. However when it comes to the time for them to move on to the third form, children are separated based on their overall academic performance in second form. This continues to the fourth and fifth form. They are placed in classes based on their average performance in the previous year.
Negative impact
Now, it does not take a psychologist to tell me of the strong negative impact such a process can have on the children who are placed in the stream consisting of the 'dunce' students. Even if a child has more than the potential to excel, but probably lack a strong positive attitude, you can more or less forget that such a child will ever have the confidence to work harder after being told by the schools' adminis-tration that he/she is not good enough. Remember as well that he/she is not simply told this on a report card, but he/she is being
told so in front of both their peers and their parents. What an embarrassment!
My question to the schools, and I am sure you know who you are, is what purpose does this streaming really serve? You may have started out with good intentions I am sure. Some people believe that placing above average students in the same class as those less than average can hinder the development of the 'bright' ones. The slower learners may also not get enough attention if placed in a class with the 'bright' students because they might be reserved in raising their hands for further explanation when everyone else seems to be following.
Find a better way
I sympathise with schools for the difficulty teachers face and that is why I have great admiration for those who choose that profession. But you have to find a better way to tackle problems like this. You have to put the children's well-being first. How about mixing the group so that the better performers can pull up the others? I believe that every individual has some talent. If you have to separate children based on performance, why not do so on the basis of their aptitude in certain areas? For example, the mathematically inclined; the artistically inclined; the literary minded, etc. Be creative.
Teenagers face several challenges as they struggle with the transition from childhood to adulthood. Parents need to be especially mindful of this period and try their best where possible to reduce these challenges.
It will be interesting to hear what the Ministry of Education has to say on the matter of streaming.
I am, etc.,
GARNIESHA GRAHAM
garnieshagg@hotmail.com
41 Riverside Drive
Harbour View
Kingston 17
Via Go-Jamaica
