THE EDITOR, Sir:

I AM sure that many Jamaicans are in total agreement with Wednesday's editorial regarding our malfunc-tioning Jamaica Teachers' Association (JTA).

Jamaica cannot advance and grow its economy and solve its social problems when we accept mediocre test results and continue to blame our pupils. We should upgrade our institutional personnel and bond our well-trained teachers to be in the classroom in Jamaica a minimum of five years before they migrate. It is the teacher's job to ensure that the child learns, so please stop blaming the students.

We have many methods of assessing a child's intelligence and ability. Get the job done!

I'll never forget a principal/teacher in a country school who told me that a particular child whose education was entrusted to me by his devout Christian parents was incapable of learning because both his parents were illiterate. Of course, I prevailed and that child today is the recipient of an MBA and is a very successful businessman that rescued his entire family from poverty.

To be a good teacher one needs to care and respect the child and his family background regardless of his/her/their shortcoming. Teaching was a noble profession in Jamaica 30 years ago. The noose is on the JTA.

The reform of Jamaica's education is a must now more then ever before. After all, educated people commit fewer murders.

I am, etc.,

ERAN SPIRO

eran@cwjamaica.com

Hummingbird Hill

Bamboo, St. Ann

Via Go-Jamaica