Push-starters of Early Childhood Education
published: Thursday | May 22, 2003
THE EDITOR, Sir:
IT IS so heart-warming and encouraging to see that so much emphasis has now been placed on Early Childhood Education. With the green light ahead, and a lot of catching up to do, I am sure that that large percentage of semi-literate and illiterate that this education system have failed so miserably must be lowered.
Our present education system is a failure, which has created more crime and lack of hope in the system. There must be success when our young ones get a good push-start. There is a lot of catching up to do to make the wrongs right. This education system must now be made more attractive, to entice good and qualified teachers, who like the challenge, are devoted and willing to move ahead with the times, and be rewarded with attractive salaries.
This country has some very devoted infant school teachers, who go way beyond the call of duty to do their little best for the upliftment of our people. Many live in small rural districts, that are lost in the cracks of the system. They teach and mould the young minds, to the best of their ability, with total dedication and love. Many of these hardworking teachers are not even acknowledged or recognised by the education system yet they are the push-starters of life.
One such person is Dorothy Shand, who lives and does her work, in that sleepy little village of Shawberry, nestled in the hills of St. Ann near Brown's Town. God bless the pittance of a salary that she receives, from the handful of parents, who can't even afford to pay for their children's tuition. This very humble and dedicated woman, with a heart of gold, used her own meagre funds to build a little basic school in Shawberry, and gives her utmost best, to train and guide the young minds in her charge. She is doing her part to make Jamaica a safer and better place to live.
There are many such blessed, humble, conscientious considerate and dedicated people in all walks of life in our country Jamaica, doing their best, so that we might all benefit from it, one way or the other. God bless them all.
