THE EDITOR, Sir:
I NOTE on Monday, a letter which speaks to training primary school teachers. I have become cynical now as I see how those who are not involved in education have all this misinformation regarding the profession and pass it off as truth.
Let me share some insight into qualification. My academic staff is 39-strong in a primary school. Of this number, 32 are diploma or certificate trained teachers; 12 of this number are classified as trained graduates, meaning they have acquired university training in addition to teachers' college training.
It does not end there as six out of the 39 are acquiring or have acquired their master's degree. Three of my staff are specialist teachers and of the four pre-trained, two are enrolled in a teachers' college evening programme. This situation prevails in many primary schools. We are qualified, we do our jobs. We try our best even when situations mitigate against us. Can someone do a study of all the negating circumstances that present themselves daily?
Children come to school hungry, tired, emotionally scarred, diagnosed as learning-impaired, socially and economically deprived, etc. We work with them and there is much value added.
They do not all enter or leave school as A+ students, but leave with positive attitudes, life-changing skills and the ability to change their situation.
I am, etc.,
SHARON WILLIAMS
spicey_shar@hotmail.com
P.O. Box 35
Kingston 7
